The 105th session of the Executive Council of the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) concluded today in The Hague. It was held from March 5 to March 8, 2024.
Ambassador Suljuk Mustansar Tarar, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to OPCW, delivered the national statement during the session. In the statement, Pakistan called for the full, effective, and non-discriminatory implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
Ambassador Suljuk Mustansar Tarar mentioned the continuing tragic situation in Gaza and reiterated Pakistan’s call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
Ambassador Tarar said that Pakistan has a robust national implementation mechanism for CWC, and a sub-regional Assistance and Protection Centre serves as a center of excellence in the region. In addition, Pakistan also has an OPCW-designated laboratory. He said Pakistan actively supports the implementation of capacity-building activities under the CWC.
Ambassador Tarar noted that artificial intelligence could lead to the threat of chemical weapons across the world and said that Pakistan looked forward to contributing to Director General Fernando Arias’ initiative in this regard.
He underscored the importance of consensus-based decision-making while remaining committed to the CWC, and it is Pakistan’s earnest hope that we revert to consensus in all our decision-making.
Pakistan is an active member of the 41-member Hague-based OPCW’s Executive Council. Pakistan’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to OPCW, Suljuk Mustansar Tarar, is the elected Chair of the Chemical Weapons Convention’s 28th Conference of States Parties.