At the United Nations, Pakistan has expressed concern over the threats posed by anti-satellite missile tests to regional and global stability and called for steps to prevent outer space from emerging as a new realm of conflict and arms race.

The concern was shown by Pakistan’s delegate Husham Ahmed while speaking in a debate on Outer Space matters at the General Assembly’s Disarmament and International Security Committee.  

He drew attention to a demonstration of anti-satellite capabilities in South Asia earlier this year, obviously referring to India’s testing of an anti-satellite weapon in an operation code named ‘Mission Shakti’.

Husham Ahmed said in absence of strong legal instruments regulating the testing, development and deployment of anti-satellite weapons, other states could also follow the suit by demonstrating such capabilities.

He said the potential integration of Anti-Ballistic Missile systems and their components into space assets adds another worrying dimension to this matter.

He said outer space is our common heritage and Pakistan is firmly opposed to its weaponization.

The Pakistani delegate urged the Conference on Disarmament to immediately commence negotiations on Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space to comprehensively address the gaps in international legal regime governing the exploration and use of outer space.

NNR/Khokhar