Topic: 2026 – Clarification of Article 51
Country: Pakistan
Delegate Name: Caleb Stoner
DELEGATE: Caleb Stoner
COUNTRY: The Islamic Republic of Pakistan
COMMITTEE: SCUNC
ISSUE: Clarification of Article 51
The issue at hand is that Article 51 needs significant specifications. Pakistan believes in its current state Article 51 could be harmful to countries who are being attacked by significantly larger countries. Such as, the conflict between us and India. Pakistan has suffered much loss from their attacks and with the current phrasing of the article we may be subject to more loss at the hands of this country. Such as in the case of the Indus Water Treaty while the treaty was meant to resolve conflict it resulted in India revoking such things as India had more power and took advantage of our nations insecurities. This action caused our nation to be thrown further into water insecurity. However, Pakistan believes that many modifications may be made to this article that could provide protection to us in the case that neighboring countries use their status and power to take advantage of insecure nations. Pakistan states and have previously stated that we believe every nation has a right to self defense but there must be limits.
Pakistan has provided insight to the United Nations several times as to the harm of unrestricted warfare, noting that it should be used very carefully. The conflict between Pakistan and India is a clear sign that if given the chance India would use this article as a means of attack towards our nation. To that point a solution to this issue would be to put a prior authorization of these self defense acts. A nation would need to go through a thorough set of measures before being permitted to attack. Such as providing resources to nations who claim to need these measures before permitting such acts or in the case of our nation shutting down airways until conflict is resolved peacefully. However, The Indus water treaty has provided our nation with great resources and with India’s attempt to remove it, we also believe that nations would need to be restricted from attempting to cut off resources as a means of self defense.
In conclusion, Pakistan has many ideas to tackle this issue. Such as to instate a standard for what is able to be considered self defense The standard would include specifications and alternate options for those who do not have a conflict that fits the standard.. Pakistan has had its own laws in regards to national defense, so Pakistan believes it could aid in creating specifications to make this article be the most helpful to nations as it can be.
