The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held closed consultations under the agenda item “The India-Pakistan Question”, urging the two countries to hold talks to defuse the soaring tensions between them after Pahalgam incident, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Members of the UN Security Council, meeting behind closed-doors on Monday, called for restraint and de-escalation leading to an India-Pakistan dialogue as tensions mounted between the two South Asian neighbours, with several members also underscoring early resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
The meeting was held to discuss the deteriorating regional security environment, heightened tensions between India and Pakistan and the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was convened at Pakistan’s request, in view of India’s recent unilateral measures and provocative public pronouncements that have significantly increased the risk of military confrontation and threatened regional and international peace and security.
During the meeting, UN Security Council members expressed deep concern over the growing risk of escalation and emphasized the urgent need for restraint and de-escalation.
The Council members called for dialogue and diplomacy to defuse tensions and avoid military confrontation and conflict and to peacefully resolve issues.
Several members of the Security Council underscored that the long-standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute is the root cause of regional instability, and it must be resolved in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Many Council members underlined respect for international law and obligations with reference to the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty by India.
Briefing Council members, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad highlighted India’s provocative actions, including its unilateral measures announced on 23rd April and aggressive military posturing.
He cautioned that these actions are unjustified and dangerous, and could lead to catastrophic consequences.
The Council members were apprised of intelligence indicating an imminent threat of kinetic action by India against Pakistan.
It was made clear that Pakistan remains fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and would exercise its inherent and legitimate right to self-defence as enshrined in the UN Charter in case of any aggression.
However, Pakistan reaffirmed that it did not seek escalation.
Pakistan categorically rejected India’s baseless allegations linking it to the 22nd April attack in IIOJK and highlighted that India’s unfounded accusations were made without any investigation or credible evidence.
It was emphasized that such incidents must not be allowed to be used to justify aggression or violate international law.
India’s involvement in state-sponsored terrorism against Pakistan and targeted assassinations in Pakistan and elsewhere was also highlighted in the Security Council meeting.
The Council members were also briefed on India’s unilateral decision to hold in abeyance the historic Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, a legally binding agreement, brokered by the World Bank.
Pakistan warned that any attempt to obstruct or divert the natural flow of its share of river waters would constitute an act of war.
Pakistan welcomes calls by the UN Secretary-General to offer his good offices and Council members for dialogue and de-escalation, and intensified diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions.
It is imperative for the international community, in particular the Security Council, to act with urgency and responsibility to avoid a conflict that could have catastrophic consequences for South Asia and beyond.
It is pertinent to mention that the “India-Pakistan Question,” is one of the oldest items on the agenda of the UN Security Council, under which the UN Security Council remains seized of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Asim Iftikhar while briefing newsmen after the special session of UN Security Council in New York said Indian steps are a threat to peace and stability in the region and dialogue is the only way to resolve issues.
The envoy said Kashmir is a long-standing dispute between Pakistan and India and it remains unresolved even after passage of 70 years. He said Indian atrocities against innocent and oppressed Kashmiris continue unabated.
Asim Iftikhar told the Council members that Pakistan is ready to take part in any independent and neutral investigation into the Pahalgam incident.
The Pakistan's Permanent Representative also raised the issue of India holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance.
Briefing newsmen, Asim Iftikhar said that the country’s objectives were largely achieved by a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting it had requested to discuss the prevailing tensions in South Asia amid a standoff with India.
Asim Iftikhar delivered a news briefing following the UNSC meeting, stating that the nation’s objectives were “largely served and achieved” by the discussion and reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to remaining peaceful and open to dialogue.
Asim said “Several UNSC members recognised the imperative of peacefully resolving all issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.”
“There was also a clear sense that regional stability cannot be sustained through unilateralism, it requires principled diplomacy, engagement and adherence to international law,” Asim said, noting that peace “does not happen in a vacuum” and highlighted some of the key points discussed during the moot.
“We expressed grave concern over India’s recent unilateral measures, particularly the illegal actions of April 23, military build-up and inflammatory statements,” he said and added “These actions, alongside credible evidence of potential escalation, have dangerously raised tensions.”
Asid said “Pakistan does not seek confrontation [but] we are fully prepared to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter. When peace is threatened in a region home to one-fourth of humanity, it becomes a global issue.”
The envoy highlighted that Pakistan “categorically rejected” India’s allegations that it was responsible for the Pahalgam attack, which was condemned by Pakistan and “all council members”. “What India is claiming is nothing but recycled allegations, unsubstantiated, unverified [and] designed to serve its political interest and strategic objectives, which include trying to divert attention from repression and human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir and to undermine the legitimate Kashmiri struggle for self-determination,” he said.
Asim also raised India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, which he noted was brokered by the World Bank and “upheld during wars”. “Water is life, not a weapon,” he said. “These rivers sustain over 240 million Pakistanis. Any attempt to disrupt their flow constitutes aggression, and allowing such a precedent would endanger every lower riparian state.”
According to Asim Iftikhar, the council was reminded that the Kashmir issue was the core contributor to instability in South Asia. “The Kashmiri people continue to face gross human rights violations, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, demolition of homes — that we are seeing now — restrictions on expression and media and a systematic denial of their right to self-determination,” he added.
“Lasting peace in South Asia requires that the UNSC implements its own resolutions, which includes the holding of a UN-supervised plebiscite for Kashmiris to determine their own future,” he stated, adding Pakistan called out India’s “weaponization of disinformation and efforts to malign Pakistan”.
“We reminded the UNSC that Pakistan has been a frontline state in the war on terror, sacrificing over 19,000 lives along with immense economic setback,” he said and added “India’s attempts to distort this reality, while ignoring its own destabilising actions and involvement in terrorism abroad, including the case of Kulbushan Jadhav and extraterritorial assassinations, must be met with truth, transparency and accountability.”
He further said: “We reiterated our commitment to peaceful, cooperative relations with all our neighbours, including India. We remain open to dialogue based on mutual respect and sovereign equality.”
He said Pakistan reiterated its call for a “transparent, neutral and credible investigation” of the Pahalagam attack. “While we pursue peace, we will defend our interests and safeguard our sovereignty resolutely, and at all costs. We urge the UNSC and the secretary general to remain actively engaged in peacemaking and preventative diplomacy,” he added.
“The role of the council is not just to observe conflict from afar, but to prevent it through timely and principled action. Peace must be built through dialogue, engagement and respect for international law. India’s current posture reflects none of these,” Asim said and added “The burden of peace must be shared — the people of Kashmir have waited far too long for justice, and the people of Pakistan will not stand by while their rights — to water, to peace, to sovereignty — are threatened,” he added.
“In view of the gravity of the situation, the calls for dialogue, de-escalation, and peaceful resolution of disputes, such as by the secretary general and what we heard from the council members today, are the most pertinent and the way forward for lasting peace and stability in the region,” he concluded.
PM receives telephone call from the UN chief
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and discussed the prevailing security situation in South Asia.
This was the second telephone conversation between the two leaders within a week, a press release issued by the PM House said.
The prime minister appreciated the UN Secretary General’s continued engagement and outreach efforts and welcomed his call for de-escalation as well as the need to avoid any confrontation.
While reiterating his offer of an independent transparent, neutral and credible investigation, the prime minister expressed his concern that India was yet to provide any evidence, nevertheless it continued to resort to provocative rhetoric and war mongering.
He reiterated Pakistan’s determination to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The prime minister expressed his serious concern at Indian attempts to politicise international financial institutions in an attempt to harm Pakistan’s economic interests.
The secretary general briefed the prime minister on his outreach efforts for peace and stability in the region, and expressed his commitment to remain engaged with all interlocutors on the issue.