The UN Security Council began closed-door meetings here on the India-Pakistan situation, just hours after Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed alarm at tensions between nuclear neighbors being “at their highest in years.”
Pakistan’s Request for Closed Consultations
Pakistan, its current non-permanent member on the influential 15-nation Security Council, had sought “closed consultations” on the situation. Greece, May’s president of the Council, fixed the meeting on May 5 in the afternoon.
The meeting behind closed doors will not be held in the UNSC Chamber where the Council members sit around the dominant horse-shoe table but in a consultations room adjacent to the chamber.
Briefing by UN Officials and Possible Press Release
Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations Khaled Mohamed Khiari of Tunisia will brief the Council on behalf of both departments (DPPA and DPO).
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad could brief reporters after the meeting.
Guterres Expresses Concern Over Escalating Tensions
Hours before the closed consultations, Guterres expressed concern over India-Pakistan tensions being at “their highest in years,” stating “it pains me to see relations reaching a boiling point.”
Guterres spoke to the media from the UNSC stake-out Monday morning in the wake of escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that left 26 civilians dead, including a Nepali national.
UN Secretary-General Calls for Maximum Restraint
Guterres said he understands the “raw feelings” following the “awful terror attack” in Pahalgam and reiterated his strong condemnation of that attack, extending his condolences to the families of the victims. “Targeting civilians is unacceptable and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible and lawful means,” he said.
Guterres stressed that it is essential especially at this critical hour to avoid a military confrontation that could easily spin out of control. “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,” the UN chief said.
He reiterated that he offers his good offices to both governments in the service of peace. “The United Nations stands ready to support any initiative that promotes de-escalation, diplomacy, and a renewed commitment to peace.”
India’s Response to Pakistan’s Efforts
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. India’s former Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, told PTI that “a party to the conflict seeking to shape perceptions by using its membership of the Council” would not lead to any “consequential outcome.” India will parry such Pakistani efforts.
