UN Security Council holds 'closed-door consultations' amid India-Pak tensions

Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the UN Security Council convened behind closed doors for urgent consultations — just hours after Secretary-General Antnio Guterres warned that the situation had reached its most volatile point in years.

Pakistan, currently a non-permanent member of the powerful 15-nation Security Council, had requested closed consultations to address the issue.

As the Council president for May, Greece has scheduled a closed-door meeting for the afternoon of May 5. Unlike formal sessions held in the UNSC Chamber—where members convene around the iconic horse-shoe table — this consultation will take place in a separate room next to the chamber.

Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Mohamed Khiari, who oversees Middle East, Asia, and Pacific affairs within the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and Peace Operations (DPO), will brief the Council on behalf of both entities. Following the meeting, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, may address reporters, according to news agency PTI.

India’s former Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin 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 efforts”.

In August 2019, China requested closed UNSC consultations to discuss India’s move to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. That meeting had ended without any outcome or statement from the powerful 15-nation UN organ, dealing a huge snub to Pakistan’s efforts, backed by Beijing, to internationalise the Kashmir issue, which an overwhelming majority in the Council stressed is a bilateral matter between New Delhi and Islamabad.

TENSIONS AT THEIR PEAK

On Monday morning, Guterres voiced concern over tensions between India and Pakistan being at “their highest in years”, saying “it pains me to see relations reaching a boiling point”. Guterres made the remarks to the press amid rising tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 people.

“Targeting civilians is unacceptable – and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible and lawful means,” he said. Guterres stressed that it is essential – especially at this critical hour — to avoid a military confrontation that could easily spin out of control. “Now 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.

(With inputs from PTI)

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