United Nations, January 14, 2025: Pakistan has said that the unrestricted availability, proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware and related technologies by both state and non-state actors have emerged as a matter of global concern, and expressed its deep alarm over the unregulated military applications of cyberspace, covert information operations, exploitation of software and hardware vulnerabilities. In a statement during Arria-Formula meeting on the topic of “Commercial Spyware and the Maintenance of International Peace and Security”, convened by the United States Mission, Ambassador Usman Jadoom, Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, said that the militarization of cyberspace, the development of offensive cyber capabilities and the unchecked military applications of new and emerging technologies, have led to the concerns. He said that in the absence of a global regulatory framework to ensure the responsible uses of cyberspace, these developments pose grave risk to international stability. Pakistan’s deputy UN envoy said that we have witnessed firsthand the dangers posed by such technology when hostile actors were found using spyware tools to target our citizens, public figures and state entities. “Such malicious actions are clearly in breach of global norms of responsible state behavior, and more importantly, a violation of the principles of UN Charter including the non-use of force, state sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of States,” he stated. Ambassador Usman Jadoon reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to fostering international dialogue on the formulation of a global legal framework for cyberspace, emphasizing the urgency of addressing gaps in existing international law. Highlighting the limitations of non-binding norms in cyberspace, the Pakistani delegate proposed a legally binding instrument, to be discussed and adopted through an inclusive UN process. The proposed framework aims to: 1. Prohibit ICT activities that damage critical infrastructure, introduce harmful vulnerabilities, or compromise supply-chain security. 2. Establish regulatory mechanisms to prevent the misuse of surveillance technologies, including spyware. 3. Strengthen international cooperation to ensure equitable access to technology for peaceful purposes and enhance capacity-building efforts. 4. Develop mechanisms for resolving issues such as attribution challenges and secure cross-border data exchange. 5. Promote confidence-building measures (CBMs) in cybersecurity to reduce misunderstandings and enhance regional and global stability. Ambassador Jadoon said that Pakistan is dedicated to collaborating with Member States to ensure a secure and stable digital environment, essential for sustainable development. It urges the global community to prioritize dialogue and cooperation to address the pressing threats posed by cyber insecurity.