UN Security Council questions Pakistan over the Pahalgam Attack
As predicted, Pakistan did not receive any major results from the UN Security Council's (UNSC) closed-door meeting on the growing tensions between India and Pakistan.
New Delhi (India) May 7: Indian government sources claim that Pakistan's attempts to internationalise the matter were unsuccessful because the Council expressed concerns about Pakistan's nuclear rhetoric and missile tests, asked Islamabad to settle disputes bilaterally with India, and demanded accountability for the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
In view of the tensions with India, Pakistan, one of the ten non-permanent members of the council, had asked for "closed consultations" during the Greek chair of the UNSC.
Greece, the president of the United Nations Security Council, called the meeting for May after Pakistan requested it. The 15-member UNSC did not release a statement after the meeting, but Pakistan said that its own goals were "largely served." According to Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, one of the goals of the closed consultations was to allow the members to discuss the deteriorating security situation and growing tensions between India and Pakistan.The famous horseshoe table was not the location of the consultations.
Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for May, Evangelos Sekeris, described the meeting as “productive meeting, helpful”.
A Russian diplomat, coming out of the meeting, said, “We hope for de-escalation,”
Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, Khaled Mohamed Khiari of Tunisia, said after the meeting that there was a call for "dialogue and peaceful resolution of the conflict",
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, criticised the Pahalgam terror violence, in which terrorists shot and killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
Guterres restated his strong condemnation of the attack and said he understands the "raw feelings" that followed the "awful terror attack" in Pahalgam.
Targeting civilians is unacceptable – and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible and lawful means,” he said.
The UN Chief also added,“Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink. That has been my message in my ongoing outreach with both countries. Make no mistake: A military solution is no solution,”
No official statement has been made by the Security Council or India.
Aadrika Tayal
What's Your Reaction?
