Research by : Prof Sohail Ahmed
In a notable development on March 11, 2026, Pakistan voted in favor of Resolution 2817, which condemned Iran for “egregious attacks” against its neighbors (including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan). This resolution was sponsored by Bahrain and supported by a wide margin (13-0).
Context: This vote aligns Pakistan more closely with its Gulf partners during the current regional escalation.
Simultaneously, Pakistan voted for a Russian-drafted resolution that called for a general cessation of all military activities (including those by the US and Israel), demonstrating an effort to remain “balanced” rather than purely anti-Iran.
Pakistan’s Consistent Support on Human Rights
earlier this year, on January 23, 2026, Pakistan joined China and India in voting against a UN Human Rights Council resolution that sought to extend investigations into Iran’s domestic crackdown on protests because Pakistan traditionally opposes “country-specific” human rights resolutions, viewing them as interference in internal sovereign affairs. Iran’s Foreign Ministry publicly thanked Pakistan for this “strong support.”
Pakistan’s current position appears to be supporting Iran on issues of “sovereignty” and “internal affairs” (Human Rights).
Voting against Iran (or with the Gulf) when military actions directly threaten the stability of the GCC countries, which are vital economic partners for Islamabad.
