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Time of India
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
At UNSC Meet, Pakistan Faces Flak for Escalation
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), at an informal session, pulled up Pakistan for ratcheting up tensions with India through missile tests and nuclear war rhetoric in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir. Envoys of several member nations affirmed the need for accountability while calling for de-escalation between the posed 'tough questions' to Pakistan at a closeddoor meeting of the 15-member body in New York on Monday, including over the possible involvement of Pakistan-based proscribed terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba , said people familiar with the matter. India has pointed a finger at Pakistan for the Pahalgam attack killed 26 civilians, and India has resolved to hunt down those responsible for it. There was broad condemnation of the assault, and council members refused to accept Pakistan's 'false flag operation' narrative, the people cited said. A false flag operation is one carried out with the intention of blaming another for UNSC members specifically brought up the targeting of tourists on the basis of their religion, and Pakistan was advised to sort out issues bilaterally with India, they meeting was scheduled by Greece, president of the UNSC for May, following a request from Pakistan, which is currently a non-permanent member of the council. Assistant secretary-general for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the departments of political and peace-building affairs and peace operations, Khaled Mohamed Khiari of Tunisia, briefed the council on behalf of both the meeting he said there was a call for 'dialogue and peaceful resolution of the conflict,' while noting that the 'situation is volatile.' Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris , a permanent representative of Greece to the UN and the current UNSC president, described it as a 'productive meeting, helpful.' Although the council did not issue a statement after the meeting, which was held in a consultative room rather than the main hall, Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN, ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, told media persons that the country's objectives were 'largely served and achieved.'
The Print
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Pahalgam terror attack: UN Security Council member nations pose tough questions to Pakistan
There was broad condemnation of the terrorist attack and the need to fix accountability for it, authoritative sources told PTI after an informal session of the top UN body. The Security Council refused to issue a statement following the meeting which was held in a consultative room rather than the main hall, effectively dismissing Pakistan's attempt to get a favourable position from the Security Council. New York, May 6 (PTI) UN Security Council member nations have posed tough questions to Pakistan while discussing the Pahalgam terror attack amid increasing global outrage over the dastardly strike that killed 26 civilians. 'The UN Security Council members raised tough questions for Pakistan at its informal session. It was advised to sort out the issues bilaterally with India,' a source said. At the deliberations, the UN Security Council discussed rising tensions between India and Pakistan and several envoys called for de-escalation. Although the 15-member UNSC did not issue a statement, Pakistan claimed that its own objectives were 'largely served'. Pakistan is one of the non-permanent members of the UN Security Council. Greece, president of the UNSC for the month of May, had scheduled the meeting on Monday following a request by Pakistan. Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations Khaled Mohamed Khiari of Tunisia briefed the Council on behalf of both departments (DPPA and DPO). Coming out of the meeting, Khiari said there was a call for 'dialogue and peaceful resolution of the conflict.' He noted that the 'situation is volatile.' Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, a Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations and the current UNSC President, described it as a 'productive meeting, helpful'. A Russian diplomat said, 'We hope for de-escalation.' Citing 'cross-border linkages' to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, India has promised severe punishment to those involved in the strike. India on April 23 announced a raft of punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting down of the only operation land border crossing at Attari and downgrading of diplomatic ties in view of cross-border links to the attack. In response, Pakistan shut its airspace to Indian airliners and suspended all trade with India, including through third countries. Pakistan rejected India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and said any move to stop the flow of water will be seen as an 'act of war'. PTI YAS/MPB DV DV This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
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Business Standard
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Indo-Pak tensions: UNSC urges de-escalation, ask Pakistan 'tough questions'
The UN Security Council discussed rising tensions between India and Pakistan at closed-door consultations, where envoys called for de-escalation and also asked Pakistan tough questions. Greece, president of the UNSC for the month of May, had scheduled the meeting on Monday following a request by Pakistan, which is currently a non-permanent member. The meeting comes days after terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, triggering outrage in India. The 15-member UNSC did not issue a statement after the meeting, but Pakistan claimed that its own objectives were "largely served". Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations Khaled Mohamed Khiari of Tunisia briefed the Council on behalf of both departments (DPPA and DPO). Coming out of the meeting, Khiari said there was a call for dialogue and peaceful resolution of the conflict. He noted that the situation is volatile. Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, a Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations and the current UNSC President, described it as a productive meeting, helpful. A Russian diplomat said, We hope for de-escalation. Sources here told PTI that members of the 15-nation Security Council raised "tough questions for Pakistan at its informal session. It was advised to sort out the issues bilaterally with India, they said. The sources added that there was broad condemnation of the terrorist attack and recognition of the need for accountability. Some members specifically brought up targeting of tourists on the basis of their religious faith, the sources said. UNSC members refused to accept the false flag narrative and asked whether Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba was likely to be involved. The closed-door meeting that lasted about an hour and a half did not take place in the UNSC Chamber where Council members sit at the horse-shoe table, but in a consultation room next to it. Sources added Pakistan's efforts to internationalise the situation also failed. Many members expressed concern that Pakistan's missile tests and nuclear rhetoric were escalatory factors. Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad told reporters that the country's objectives were largely served and achieved at the meeting. He said the objectives of the closed consultations included enabling the Council members to have a discussion on the deteriorating security environment and rising tensions between India and Pakistan and to have an exchange of views on how to address the situation, including avoiding confrontation that could have serious consequences and the need for de-escalation. Ahmad thanked Council members for their engagement and their calls for restraint, de-escalation and dialogue. He said that while Pakistan does not seek confrontation, we are fully prepared to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity. Pakistan also raised the issue of India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. Water is life, not a weapon. These rivers sustain over 240 million Pakistanis, he said. Ahmad said at the meeting Pakistan reiterated its commitment to peaceful, cooperative relations with all our neighbours, including India. We remain open to dialogue based on mutual respect and sovereign equality, 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 also heard from the Council members today are most pertinent, Ahmad said. Before the UNSC meeting, India's former Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin had told PTI that no consequential outcome" can be expected from a discussion where a party to the conflict seeks to shape perceptions by using its membership of the Council. India will parry such Pakistani efforts." Following the meeting, he said, Pakistan's grandstanding has flopped again today as in the past. As was expected, there was no meaningful response by the Council. Indian diplomacy has yet again successfully parried Pakistani efforts to seek the Security Council's intervention. Just hours before the closed consultations, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced concern over tensions between India and Pakistan being at their highest in years. It pains me to see relations reaching a boiling point," he said. He made these remarks to the press from the UNSC stake-out Monday morning. Guterres said he understands the raw feelings following the awful terror attack in Pahalgam and reiterated his strong condemnation of that attack. Targeting civilians is unacceptable and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible and lawful means, he said. The UN chief 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. Apart from the five veto-wielding permanent members China, France, Russia, the 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. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
In closed-door meeting, UNSC asks Pakistan tough questions amid heightened tensions with India
The UN Security Council on Monday afternoon held a closed-door consultation, discussing rising tensions between India and Pakistan after a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam claimed 26 lives. In the meeting, envoys called for de-escalation between the two countries, and posed 'tough questions' for Pakistan, reported PTI. The meeting was scheduled by Greece, president of the UNSC for the month of May, after Pakistan raised a request for the same. The 15-member UNSC did not issue a statement after the meeting, but Pakistan claimed that its own objectives were 'largely served', PTI reported. Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations Khaled Mohamed Khiari of Tunisia briefed the Council on behalf of both departments (DPPA and DPO). Coming out of the meeting, Khiari said there was a call for 'dialogue and peaceful resolution of the conflict.' He noted that the 'situation is volatile.' Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, a Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations and the current UNSC President, described it as a 'productive meeting, helpful'. The closed-door UNSC meeting did not take place in their usual horse-shoe seating room, but in a consultation room next to it. It lasted about an hour. Quoting sources, PTI reported that Pakistan's efforts to internationalise the situation also failed. Many members expressed concern that Pakistan's missile tests and nuclear rhetoric were escalatory factors. Pakistan's objectives 'largely served' in meeting Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad told reporters that the country's objectives were 'largely served and achieved' at the meeting. Ahmad said that the objectives of the meeting enabled the UNSC members to have a discussion on the deteriorating security environment and rising tensions between India and Pakistan and to have an exchange of views on how to address the situation, including avoiding confrontation that could have serious consequences and the need for de-escalation. He thanked the Council for their push for de-escalation and dialogue, and added that while Pakistan does not seek confrontation, 'we are fully prepared to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity'. Pahalgam attack aftermath Tensions between India and Pakistan remain heightened after the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, where attackers opened fire on a group of tourists, killing 26 people. The Resistance Front, proxy organisation of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) claimed responsibility for the attack. After the attack, the Indian government announced multiple measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and deporting Pakistani nationals from the country. Pakistan, in turn, retaliated by suspending the Simla Agreement. Pakistani troops also carried out unprovoked firing at the Line of Control (LoC) for 12 consecutive nights, firing from areas across border districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army responded to the firing proportionately.
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Business Standard
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
UNSC holds closed-door talks on Indo-Pak tensions, urges restraint
The United Nations Security Council has discussed rising tensions between India and Pakistan at closed-door consultations where envoys called for de-escalation and dialogue. Greece, president of the UNSC for the month of May, had scheduled the meeting Monday following a request by Pakistan, which is currently a non-permanent member. The meeting comes days after terrorists killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, triggering outrage in India. The closed-door meeting that lasted about an hour and a half did not take place in the UNSC Chamber where Council members sit at the horse-shoe table, but in a consultations room next to it. The 15-member UNSC did not issue a statement after the meeting but Pakistan claimed that its own objectives were "largely served". 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 briefed the Council on behalf of both departments (DPPA and DPO). Coming out of the meeting, Khiari said there was a call for dialogue and peaceful resolution of the conflict. He noted that the situation is volatile. Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, a Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations and the current UNSC President, described it as a productive meeting, helpful. Last week, Sekeris had said that a meeting of the Council on the situation would be an "opportunity to have views expressed and this might help to diffuse a bit tensions." A Russian diplomat, coming out of the meeting, said We hope for de-escalation. Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad told reporters that the country's objectives were largely served and achieved at the meeting. He said the objectives of the closed consultations included enabling the Council members to have a discussion on the deteriorating security environment and rising tensions between India and Pakistan and to have an exchange of views on how to address the situation, including avoiding confrontation that could have serious consequences and the need for de-escalation. Ahmad thanked Council members for their engagement and their calls for restraint, de-escalation and dialogue. He said that while Pakistan does not seek confrontation, we are fully prepared to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity. Pakistan also raised the issue of India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. Water is life, not a weapon. These rivers sustain over 240 million Pakistanis, he said. Ahmad said at the meeting Pakistan reiterated its commitment to peaceful, cooperative relations with all our neighbours, including India. We remain open to dialogue based on mutual respect and sovereign equality, 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 also heard from the Council members today are most pertinent, Ahmad said. Before the UNSC meeting, India's former Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin had told PTI that no consequential outcome" can be expected from a discussion where a party to the conflict seeks to shape perceptions by using its membership of the Council. India will parry such Pakistani efforts." Following the meeting, he said Pakistan's grandstanding has flopped again today as in the past. As was expected there was no meaningful response by the Council. Indian diplomacy has yet again successfully parried Pakistani efforts to seek the Security Council's intervention. Just hours before the closed consultations, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced concern over tensions between India and Pakistan being at their highest in years, saying it pains me to see relations reaching a boiling point. He made these remarks to the press from the UNSC stake-out Monday morning amid rising tensions between the two countries. Guterres said he understands the raw feelings following the awful terror attack in Pahalgam and reiterated his strong condemnation of that attack. Targeting civilians is unacceptable and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible and lawful means, he said. The UN chief 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. 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.
