UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) convened closed-door consultations today under the long-standing agenda item, “The India-Pakistan Question,” amid rising concerns over the deteriorating security climate in South Asia, particularly the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The session, initiated at Pakistan’s request, was prompted by India’s recent unilateral actions and incendiary rhetoric, which Islamabad argues have dangerously heightened the threat of military confrontation and endangered both regional and global peace.
Council members voiced grave concern over the growing risk of escalation, urging both nuclear-armed neighbors to exercise maximum restraint and prioritize dialogue and diplomacy. Emphasis was placed on the immediate need to defuse tensions and resolve outstanding issues through peaceful means.
Several representatives pointed to the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute as a core driver of instability, calling for a solution consistent with UNSC resolutions and the will of the Kashmiri people. In light of India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, many members reiterated the importance of honoring international agreements and legal obligations.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, delivered a detailed briefing on India’s recent actions, including its military posturing and decisions announced on April 23. He warned of the potentially disastrous consequences of these provocations, citing intelligence reports suggesting an imminent threat of Indian military action.
Pakistan reaffirmed its readiness to defend its sovereignty in line with the UN Charter, while reiterating that it does not seek confrontation. Ambassador Ahmad strongly denied Indian accusations linking Pakistan to the April 22 attack in IIOJK, denouncing them as baseless and unsubstantiated.
The Pakistani delegation also highlighted India’s pattern of using such incidents to delegitimize the Kashmiri cause and conceal its own human rights abuses in the region. It further condemned India’s alleged involvement in cross-border sabotage and targeted killings.
Welcoming the UN Secretary-General’s offer to mediate, Pakistan urged the Security Council to act decisively to avert a wider conflict, stressing the immense stakes for South Asia and the international community.
