The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will convene closed-door consultations today to try to respond to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terrorist attack on Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The Greek Presidency convened the session for today afternoon after a request from Islamabad, made in “closed consultations,” was formalised.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Sunday said it would apprise the UNSC of developments in the region, particularly following India’s move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty. “This important diplomatic move is part of Pakistan’s efforts to present accurate facts to the international community,” the Foreign Office wrote. Pakistan is one of the ten non-permanent members of the 15-member Council.
The UNSC has five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US—while ten other non-permanent members are Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Somalia. Greece is currently presiding over the Council in May.
Speaking to the media before the meeting, Greece’s Permanent Representative to the UN and President of the Security Council for the month, Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, stated, “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 Reacts with Firm Diplomatic Steps
India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty in retaliation against the terror attack, citing “sustained cross-border terrorism” attributed to Pakistan. It also expelled Pakistani military attaches, closed the Attari land-transit post, and warned the United Nations against letting Pakistan abuse the international forum.
A week ago, India initiated a diplomatic initiative to eight non-permanent member states of the Council to counter Pakistan’s narrative. Rejecting any role in the Pahalgam attack, Islamabad had demanded a “neutral investigation.”
Last week, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, claimed Pakistan’s right to call a Security Council meeting. “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 stated.
Escalation of Diplomatic and Trade Measures
Punishing India, Pakistan shut down its airspace to Indian aircraft and cut off all trade, including with third-party countries. Islamabad also dismissed the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, and referred to any attempt by India to shut down the water supply as an “act of war.”
The closed consultations of the Security Council are likely to offer a forum for both nations to lay out their stances. But with no official resolution in sight, the diplomatic impasse seems far from over.
