In response to rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, the United Nations Security Council held a closed-door consultation on Monday. The 90-minute meeting, prompted by Pakistan, focused on the deteriorating security situation in South Asia but concluded without a formal statement.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, stated that the meeting aimed to address the growing instability in the region after the attack that left 26 civilians, most of them tourists, dead. Ahmad emphasized the importance of international engagement to prevent further escalation.
The closed consultations, presided over by Greece — which holds the rotating Council presidency for May — took place away from the iconic horseshoe table. Khaled Mohamed Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific, described the India-Pakistan relationship as "volatile" and echoed calls for a peaceful resolution through dialogue.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, hours before the meeting, strongly condemned the Pahalgam attack and urged both nations to exercise "maximum restraint." “Targeting civilians is unacceptable,” Guterres said, adding that those responsible must be held accountable through lawful means.
The UN Security Council held a 90-minute closed-door session amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. Envoys called for restraint and dialogue.
Following the attack, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed swift justice, with India suspending several diplomatic and bilateral ties with Pakistan. Measures included halting visa services, closing airspace to Pakistani aircraft, and suspending the Indus Waters Treaty.
While Pakistani officials have warned of an imminent Indian military response, Islamabad has called for an independent investigation into the attack. Meanwhile, Security Council members, including Russia, expressed hope for de-escalation.
Evangelos Sekeris, Greece’s envoy and current Security Council president, described the discussions as “productive and helpful,” though no consensus statement was issued.
The international community now watches closely as tensions remain high, with fears of further instability in the region.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)