At UN, Pakistan urges legal instrument to combat cyber threats to world peace.

A legally-binding instrument that addresses the interests of all states would be the best option to deal with increasing cyber threats to international peace and security, Pakistan has told a UN Security Council's "Arria-Formula" meeting.

"Cyber attacks are taking place with an increased intensity across the entire spectrum of our social, economic and political domains, with devastating impact on critical infrastructure and societies," Ambassador Aamir Khan, deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, said on Thursday.

Against this backdrop, he said, ensuring the peaceful use of ICTs (information and communication technologies) and preventing cyber warfare was a critical challenge.

Albania and the United States convened the 15-member Council meeting on 'Responsibility and Responsiveness of States to Cyber attacks on Critical Infrastructure' under the format of the Arria formula, which is named after a former Venezuelan UN ambassador, Diego Arria. It is a very informal consultation process that affords the Council the opportunity to hear persons in a confidential, informal setting.

In his remarks, Ambassador Aamir Khan said...