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Pakistan’s views on the draft code of conduct and more generally on how to address various aspects of outer space have been enunciated previously. In the interest of time, we would like to make the following points on substance and process:
First, in terms of substance:
Pakistan supports efforts aimed at developing transparency and confidence building measures in outer space activities.
Consultations should fully take into account the interests of all States- both the existing and potential space faring countries.
Any code of conduct that seeks to regulate outer space activity should exclusively focus on peaceful uses. The issues of right to self defence, use of force and threat of use of force, while important, need to be deliberated in other relevant fora.
The role of international cooperation and assistance is vital. All States, regardless of their degree of economic or scientific development. This is essential to ensure both long term sustainability of outer space and to ensure buy-in of all States.
Pakistan recognizes that rapid advances and growth in space technologies necessitate updating the legal and regulatory frameworks. We also recognize the need to evolve guidelines to conduct activities in outer space which is becoming congested with attendant risks. However, these gaps and risks need to be addressed through inclusive and consensus based approaches.
Efforts to evolve a code of conduct should be pursued under the auspices of the United Nations in terms of form, procedure and process. We should resist the temptation to by-pass the established multilateral institutions even if these mechanisms may appear to proceed at a slower pace than desired. To ensure universal ownership and adherence, it is essential to pursue these consultations in a UN-mandated platform.
In terms of process, we wish to make the following main points:
We thank the European Union for holding wide consultations over the past two years. We also value its efforts to identify areas of outer space that require attention and need to be addressed.
We share the concerns expressed by China and others on the questions of mandate, rules of procedure, venue and participation. Procedure and substance are both important and mutually reinforcing. The former should not be discarded for the sake of rushing the later.
As we have stated before, it is essential to obtain a formal mandate at this stage of moving from a consultative to negotiating phase. We are open to various possibilities such as through the First Committee, Fourth Committee or the General Assembly. The best venue for the negotiations is the United Nations under a UN mandate.
In regard to the proposed rules of procedure, we have several concerns and would outline them later. At this stage, we would like to express our disappointment that these rules were neither discussed nor agreed during the two years consultative process. Our participation in this meeting is in response to the EU invitation. It should not, however, be construed as endorsement of the proposed rules of procedure.
We would encourage the EU to take the necessary steps for obtaining a UN mandate to carry this important process forward, based on the principles of taking into account interests of all States, transparency, international cooperation and assistance as well as consensus.
Thank you.