UNSC condemns attack, but Pak works to water it down

A non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC), Pakistan joined other Council member-states in strongly condemning the Pahalgam terrorist attack but not before working to water it down with help from China. Pakistan, which has denied any role in the massacre that claimed 26 lives, had so far not condemned the attack even though it expressed concerns at the loss of tourists’ lives in the attack.

The Council members underlined the need for international collaboration to bring the perpetrators of the “reprehensible act of terrorism” to justice. However, while the Council’s condemnation of the Pulwama attack in 2019 called upon all States to cooperative actively with the “Government of India” in that regard, on this occasion it only asked them to do the same with “all relevant authorities”. In the case of Pulwama, the condemnation statement sought cooperation with both - the Indian government and relevant authorities.

“Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security,” said the Council, adding that such acts are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.

TOI has learnt that the consensus over the statement, proposed by the US, was preceded by some tough negotiations that saw Pakistan working with China to dilute its phrasing. In condemning several such terrorist attacks in the past, like in Pulwama and also Pakistan’s own Jaffar Express train attack in March this year, the Council had urged all States to cooperate actively with the local government and not just relevant authorities. Islamabad probably felt that a specific mention of the Indian government would give India a stick to beat it with. Instead of backing Indian investigations, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif said Saturday that Pakistan is open to a “neutral and transparent” probe into the attack.

In the Pahalgam statement, the Council condemned “in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir”, while in the case of Pulwama, it condemned again in the strongest terms the “heinous and cowardly suicide bombing”. On both occasions though, the Council said the attacks took place in Jammu and Kashmir, the term which India uses for the union territory and erstwhile state. The rest of the statement was as per the standard format used by the UNSC for condemning such attacks. Like in the case of Pulwama, the Council said in its Pahalgam statement too that the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsores of the “reprehensible act of terrorism” had to be held accountable and brought to justice. In the Pulwama statement, the Council had named Jaish-e-Mohamed for carrying out the attack but in the Pahalgam condemnation it didn’t mention the name of any terror outfit.

“Ambassadors reaffirmed the need for States to “combat by all means” threats to international peace and security resulting from acts of terrorism, in accordance with the UN Charter and other obligations under international law,’’ said a UN press statement. Meanwhile, a spokesperson said Saturday that the UN continued to monitor developments in the region “with very deep concern” and urged India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint to ensure the situation does not deteriorate further.