In a closed-door meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held at Pakistan’s request, Islamabad faced a thumbs down as its attempt to internationalise the India-Pakistan tensions fell flat.
The meeting, convened following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, saw multiple UNSC members questioning Pakistan’s narrative, particularly its “false flag” claim against India.
Sources revealed that the council firmly condemned the Pahalgam attack, in which tourists were targeted, based on their religious identity. Members questioned whether the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a banned terrorist group known for cross-border attacks, could have been involved in the incident. The council called for accountability and justice, indirectly pointing toward Pakistan’s track record of harbouring terror groups.
Pakistan, currently a non-permanent member of the UNSC, had requested the meeting under the guise of discussing rising tensions. However, the session did not result in any formal outcome or resolution, and Pakistan’s efforts were widely seen as a diplomatic flop show.
Adding to Islamabad’s troubles, UNSC members expressed concern over Pakistan’s recent missile tests and nuclear rhetoric, viewing them as “escalatory factors” in an already tense region. They advised Pakistan to resolve its differences bilaterally with India, signalling no support for Pakistan’s bid to elevate the issue on the global stage.
Behind the scenes, India had proactively engaged with UNSC member states in the lead-up to the meeting.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly spoke with leaders of four of the five permanent members, while External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held dialogues with most of the 15-member body, excluding China and Pakistan.
India’s message was clear: the planners, backers, and perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack must face justice.
Despite this, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, used his time at the UNSC to once again raise the so-called issue of Kashmir and accuse India of so called “military aggression.” He lamented over India’s decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, calling it an act of provocation, and attempted to deflect global attention from Pakistan’s support for cross-border terrorism.
