Our Bureau
New Delhi
In a major development in the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan post the Pahalgam terror attack, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will hold closed consultations today to discuss the issue this afternoon.
The meeting is taking place on the request for “closed consultations from Islamabad to the Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris.
Talking about the mounting disputes between India and Pakistan, Sekeris had called it a “cause of concern” and said “this is a position of principle. We condemn terrorism in all its forms, everywhere it is happening.”
During the closed-door meeting, Pakistan’s foreign office is expected to apprise 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 Pakistan’s foreign office.
Pakistan is a non-permanent member of the 15-nation Security Council along with Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Somalia. The five veto-wielding permanent members are China, France, Russia, UK and the US with Greece holding the presidency of the body for the month of May.
Apart from suspending the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has taken other retaliatory measures including the closure of the significant trade and cultural route of Attari-Wagah border between the two nations followed by the withdrawal of defence and naval advisors and a reduction in High Commission staff strength.
It is important to mention that India too has asked the eight non-permanent member nations of the Security Council to look into the “diplomatic offensives” committed by Pakistan by” indulging in propaganda and making baseless allegations against India.”
Pakistan, on the other hand, have distanced itself from the barbaric act of April 22 in Jammu and Kashmir and has requested for a “neutral investigation”. Taking the cue forward, Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad had last week expressed Islamabad’s right to convene a UN meeting to discuss the matter at an appropriate time.
“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.
As a response to India’s punitive measures, Pakistan also 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”.
