Not strong enough: on Pahalgam and UNSC statement

The Hindu

28-04-2025

The UN Security Council's statement on Friday, condemning 'in the strongest terms' the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, was necessary, but inadequate. According to the statement, which expressed condolences to India, and to Nepal which lost one citizen, the members of the Security Council, that include Pakistan as an elected, non-permanent member this year, 'reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security'. The statement also spoke of the need to bring the perpetrators and their sponsors to justice. However, the UNSC did not name The Resistance Front (TRF) that initially claimed responsibility for the attack, and did not refer to the group's linkages to a UNSC-designated terror outfit, the LeT. Nor did it expressly speak of cooperation with the Government of India, as it had in the past. Finally, the statement made no mention of the terrorists' intent to target non-Muslims — an abhorrent act aimed at instigating communal tensions. A comparison with previous such statements would make it clear that the language was 'watered down' given that Pakistan is a member of the Council (2025-26), and had China's support. China has in the past sought to veto statements critical of Pakistan. It is also disappointing that the statement, which was negotiated by France's envoy, the current UNSC President, did not bring stronger inputs from others on the Council including the U.S., Russia and the U.K.
As the government and security forces discuss counter-terror operations within Jammu and Kashmir to apprehend the terrorists and possible military options across the border, India's next option may be to bring a more strongly worded statement to the UN General Assembly, as various countries have done in the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts. The government would no doubt be preparing to have those terrorists it has identified from the attack and the TRF itself, designated by the UNSC, much the same way as it was able to bring the designation of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar as a terrorist after the Pulwama attack. In addition, India could build its case at the Financial Action Task Force, which put Pakistan on a 'greylist' from 2012-15 and 2018-22, and revive its plans to pass a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the United Nations. On the bilateral front, expecting assistance from Pakistan has been a dead-end in the past, despite its promises after Mumbai (2008), Pathankot (2016), and Pulwama(2019). Given the state of bilateral relations and the lack of diplomatic engagement, this is even less likely. Only a multi-pronged effort on the global stage, and the patience it showed with the extradition of Tahawwur Rana from the U.S., will ensure that India is able to follow all the threads in bringing those responsible for this brutal attack to justice and establish a durable peace.