Pakistan has called for legally binding international agreements to ensure the rule of law and accountability in outer space, particularly in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
According to details, Pakistan has warned that unregulated LEO satellites are giving rise to serious challenges including digital inequality, the spread of disinformation, militarisation, threats to sovereignty and the growth of space debris.
Addressing a 15-member meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Consular and Political Coordinator at the Pakistan Mission to the UN, Gul Qaiser Sarwani, said the unchecked expansion of commercial activities in LEO has led to the concentration of orbital slots, spectrum access, space situational awareness capabilities and economic benefits in the hands of a limited number of countries and entities.
He cautioned that without corrective measures, developing and emerging spacefaring nations would be pushed to the margins in the long term. Reiterating Pakistan’s position, Sarwani said outer space, including Low Earth Orbit, is the common heritage of all humanity and monopoly by any state or entity is unacceptable.
He said technological or commercial dominance must not translate into privileged access or regulatory advantage. The rapid increase in mega-constellations has intensified congestion in space, competition for spectrum and the risks posed by space debris, threatening the sustainable use of LEO and equitable access for new entrants in the future.
The Pakistani delegate also voiced concern over the growing use of commercial LEO systems for military and intelligence purposes, noting that this trend is blurring the line between civilian and military domains and increasing the risk of miscalculation, tension and unintended conflict.
He underlined that under international law, states bear responsibility for all national activities conducted in outer space, even when such activities are carried out by private entities. Sarwani said the risks associated with LEO cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader space security landscape, which includes an arms race in outer space, the development of anti-satellite capabilities and the integration of space assets into nuclear, cyber and conventional military strategies, collectively undermining global strategic stability.
He said the use of LEO systems to spread disinformation, cause social instability or interfere in internal affairs runs counter to the principles of sovereignty and non-intervention, while existing international frameworks remain inadequate to address these challenges.
The Pakistani delegate made clear that Pakistan supports voluntary norms and transparency measures, but said these cannot replace comprehensive, legally binding international agreements. He added that emerging space challenges, particularly the expansion of LEO, must not further widen the existing technological and regulatory divide between developed and developing countries.
