At the UNSC consultations, Pakistan’s envoy Asim Iftikhar Ahmad reignited the Kashmir narrative, accused India of military aggression, and denied involvement in the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. Diplomats criticized the move as an attempt to deflect global attention from cross-border terrorism.
BY PC Bureau
Just hours after UN Secretary-General António Guterres publicly expressed alarm over escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the United Nations Security Council convened a closed-door consultation on the issue. The meeting was requested by Pakistan, which is currently serving as a non-permanent member of the 15-nation Council.
However, the consultation—held not in the main UNSC chamber but in a nearby consultation room—ended without any formal statement or agreed-upon outcome. Diplomats present said the session focused on calls for restraint and dialogue, with no consensus reached.
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Pakistan Attempts to Divert Attention at UNSC
During the meeting, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, attempted to bring up the Kashmir issue, accusing India of military escalation and making provocative remarks. Observers noted that this was another instance of Pakistan using the UN platform to push an anti-India narrative and deflect from its alleged links to terrorism.
Ahmad denied Pakistan’s role in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians—including a Nepali national—were killed. He also condemned India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, labeling it an “act of aggression.”
Indian officials dismissed Ahmad’s comments as a baseless diversion tactic to avoid accountability for cross-border terrorism.
#BREAKING : Pakistan’s Permanent Representative at UN Asim Iftikhar Ahmad exercising same old script of Pakistan at UNSC
PAKISTAN AGAIN MISUSES UNSC PLATFORM TO SPREAD LIES AGAINST INDIA
BRING KASHMIR ISSUE CENTRE STAGE TO DILUTE THE NARRATIVE OF PAHALGAM TERROR ATTACK… pic.twitter.com/NNJ4YvuO6G
— Siddhant Mishra (@siddhantvm) May 5, 2025
UN Chief Condemns Pahalgam Attack, Calls for Restraint
Earlier in the day, UN Secretary-General Guterres strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack. “Targeting civilians is unacceptable,” he said, calling for those responsible to be brought to justice through lawful means. Guterres urged both nations to avoid a military confrontation, warning that such a scenario could spiral dangerously out of control.
“This is the moment for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink,” Guterres stated, emphasizing that “a military solution is no solution.”
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Jaishankar Engages UNSC Members, Calls for Accountability
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, ahead of the meeting, spoke individually with all UNSC members except China and Pakistan. He stressed the importance of holding the perpetrators, planners, and backers of the Pahalgam attack accountable.
In a separate call last week, Guterres reiterated his condemnation of the attack in conversation with Jaishankar and emphasized the need for justice and the prevention of further escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
