Pakistan’s Position on Western Sahara conflict: Determinants and Significances

Abstract

This study centers on Pakistan’s abstention from voting on the UN Security Council resolution concerning Western Sahara conflict, S/RES/2797 (2025), a stance that has sparked considerable debate in various journalistic and media commentaries that interpreted the move as either a hostile gesture toward Morocco or an indication of a shift in Moroccan-Pakistani relations, which are generally described as “good.” In this context, the research paper seeks to identify the determinants shaping Pakistan’s position and to elucidate its political and diplomatic significances, and to demonstrate that it is neither hostile to Morocco nor an attempt at diplomatic maneuvering. Rather, it reflects the principles of Pakistan’s current foreign policy, in which Islamabad seeks to preserve the independence of its sovereign decision-making, alongside its broader international and regional considerations. Moreover, this stance  highlights Pakistan’s reliance on United Nations principles as a justificatory mechanism that enables it to adopt a reserved stance without jeopardizing its interests or becoming entangled in conflicts unrelated to its vital security.