UNSC members call for de-escalation, ask Pakistan 'tough questions'

The UN Security Council UNSC discussed rising tensions between India and Pakistan at closeddoor consultations where envoys called for deescalation and also asked Pakistan tough questions reported news agency PTIGreece president of the UNSC for the month of May had scheduled the meeting on Monday following a request by Pakistan which is currently a nonpermanent member The meeting comes days after terrorists killed 26 people mostly tourists in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam triggering outrage in IndiaThe 15member UNSC did not issue a statement after the meeting but Pakistan claimed that its own objectives were largely servedAssistant SecretaryGeneral 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 DPOComing out of the meeting Khiari said there was a call for dialogue and peaceful resolution of the conflict He noted that the situation is volatileAmbassador Evangelos Sekeris a Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations and the current UNSC President described it as a productive meeting helpfulA Russian diplomat said We hope for deescalation reported PTISources told PTI that members of the 15nation Security Council raised tough questionsiquest for Pakistan at its informal session It was advised to sort out the issues bilaterally with India they saidThe sources added that there was broad condemnation of the terrorist attack and recognition of the need for accountabilitySome members specifically brought up targeting of tourists on the basis of their religious faith the sources saidUNSC members refused to accept the false flag narrative and asked whether Pakistanbased LashkareTaiba was likely to be involved reported PTIThe closeddoor meeting that lasted about an hour and a half did not take place in the UNSC Chamber where Council members sit at the horseshoe table but in a consultation room next to itSources told PTI that Pakistans efforts to internationalise the situation also failed Many members expressed concern that Pakistans missile tests and nuclear rhetoric were escalatory factorsPakistans Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad told reporters that the countrys objectives were largely served and achieved at the meeting reported PTIHe said the objectives of the closed consultations included enabling the Council members to have a discussion on the deteriorating security environment and rising IndoPak tensions 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 deescalation reported PTIAhmad thanked Council members for their engagement and their calls for restraint deescalation and dialogue He said that while Pakistan does not seek confrontation we are fully prepared to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity reported PTIPakistan also raised the issue of Indias suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 Water is life not a weapon These rivers sustain over 240 million Pakistanis he said reported PTIAhmad said at the meeting Pakistan reiterated its commitment to peaceful cooperative relations with all our neighbours including IndiaWe remain open to dialogue based on mutual respect and sovereign equality he addedIn view of the gravity of the situation the calls for dialogue deescalation and peaceful resolution of disputes such as by the SecretaryGeneral and what we also heard from the Council members today are most pertinent Ahmad said reported PTIBefore the UNSC meeting Indias 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 effortsFollowing the meeting he said Pakistans 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 Councils interventionJust hours before the closed consultations UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres voiced concern over IndoPak tensions being at their highest in yearsIt pains me to see relations reaching a boiling point he said He made these remarks to the press from the UNSC stakeout Monday morning Guterres said he understands the raw feelings following the awful terror attack in Pahalgam and reiterated his strong condemnation of that attackTargeting civilians is unacceptable and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible and lawful means he saidThe UN chief stressed that it is essential especially at this critical hour to avoid a military confrontation that could easily spin out of controlNow 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 reported PTIApart from the five vetowielding permanent members China France Russia the UK and the US the 10 nonpermanent members in the Council are Algeria Denmark Greece Guyana Pakistan Panama South Korea Sierra Leone Slovenia and SomaliaWith inputs from PTIatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params