Hassan Khan
At the United Nations this week, Pakistan issued a blunt warning: Artificial Intelligence may be the future, but in the wrong hands it could quickly become a global threat.
Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, speaking before the UN Security Council, called for strict oversight of AI systems, especially when used in warfare. “AI must not become a tool of coercion, or technological monopoly,” he told the chamber.
His message was clear no machine should be allowed to make life and death decisions without “Meaningful Human Control.” Asif pressed that any use of AI, particularly in military applications, must stay within the boundaries of the UN Charter and international law.
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The session, chaired by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, comes as countries worldwide scramble to get ahead of rapid advances in AI. While governments highlight the potential benefits of AI in medicine, industry, and education, its military uses from autonomous drones to advanced surveillance are sparking growing alarm.
Pakistan’s intervention reflects a deeper concern shared by many developing nations: that a few powerful states could corner AI technologies, leaving others vulnerable. By calling for international rules, Islamabad is pushing for a more balanced system where emerging technologies serve peace rather than deepen inequalities.
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Asif’s remarks land at a time when the UN is under pressure to act quickly on AI governance. In plain terms, his warning suggests that without guardrails, AI could reshape the balance of global power in unpredictable and dangerous ways.
For now, the debate is only just beginning. But Pakistan has made its position known AI may be transformative, but it cannot be left to run free without oversight.
