New Delhi:
The United Nations Security Council will hold closed consultations today to discuss the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The Greek Presidency had scheduled the meeting for this afternoon after a request for “closed consultations” from Islamabad.
Pakistan’s foreign office said yesterday it would brief the UN on regional developments in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty by India. “This important diplomatic move is part of Pakistan’s efforts to present accurate facts to the international community,” said the foreign office of Pakistan, a non-permanent member of the 15-nation Security Council.
Apart from the five veto-wielding permanent members — China, France, Russia, UK and the US — the 10 non-permanent members in the Council are Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Somalia. Greece holds the presidency of the body for the month of May.
When asked about the Pahalgam attack and resulting India-Pakistan tensions, Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris had earlier remarked, “This is a position of principle. We condemn terrorism in all its forms, everywhere it is happening. On the other hand, we are concerned about this tension which is mounting in the region.”
India had suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, citing “sustained cross-border terrorism” from Pakistan after terror links to the neighbouring country emerged in the Pahalgam attack.
A week ago, India also warned the UN over Pakistan misusing and undermining the global forum to “indulge in propaganda and make baseless allegations against India.” India has also reached out to eight non-permanent member nations of the Security Council as part of its diplomatic offensive.
Denying responsibility for the attack in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan had called for a “neutral investigation”. Last week, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad had said that his country has the right to convene a UN meeting when we feel appropriate.
“Here it is evident that there was an incident but now what has evolved in terms of the situation which is a real threat to regional and international peace and security, and we believe that the Security Council, in fact, has the mandate, and it would be very legitimate for any member of the Council, including Pakistan, to request a meeting,” Ahmad had said.
Following the Pahalgam attack, India announced a string of measures against Pakistan, including the expulsion of Pakistani military attaches, suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and immediate closure of the Attari land-transit post.
In response, Pakistan shut its airspace to all Indian airlines and suspended trade with New Delhi, including through third countries. It also rejected India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and said any measures to stop the flow of water to Pakistan under the pact would be seen as an “act of war”.
