A press statement is a communication issued to the media by the President of the Security Council, representing all 15 member nations. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has condemned the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir that resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists.
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The Council stressed the importance of holding accountable those responsible for this "reprehensible act of terrorism," along with their organizers and sponsors. In a statement, Jerome Bonnafont, the President of the Council, expressed heartfelt solidarity with the families of the victims and the governments of India and Nepal, while wishing a quick recovery to those injured. The Security Council emphasized the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of this act accountable and bring them to justice. The statement called on all nations to actively cooperate with relevant authorities, in line with their international obligations and applicable Security Council resolutions. The Council reiterated that terrorism in all its forms poses one of the most serious threats to global peace and security. They affirmed that acts of terrorism are both criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation or the identity of the perpetrators. Furthermore, they stressed that all states must combat threats to international peace and security stemming from terrorist acts, utilizing the means outlined in the UN Charter and adhering to international law, including human rights and humanitarian law. As France holds the presidency of the Council for April, Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont issued a press statement on behalf of the UN Security Council. It was reported that the draft statement was initially proposed by the United States and subsequently discussed among Council members. The UN Security Council members extended their deepest condolences to the victims' families, the governments of India and Nepal, and wished speedy recovery to those injured in the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which resulted in the deaths of 25 Indians and one Nepali national, primarily tourists.
Pakistan is currently serving as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, where a press statement requires consensus among all member nations and is a negotiated document. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, conveyed that the UN is observing the situation between India and Pakistan with significant concern. Dujarric reiterated the UN's condemnation of the attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 26 civilians. He urged both the Governments of India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint to prevent further deterioration of the situation. In response to inquiries about whether Guterres planned to contact Indian and Pakistani leaders after returning from Rome, Dujarric stated he hoped to provide an update soon. He rejected the notion that the crisis was being overlooked and affirmed that the UN is closely monitoring the situation. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has called for an international investigation team, involving Russia, China, and other Western nations, to look into the Pahalgam attack. He asserted that these nations could play a vital role in determining the truth. Asif argued that clarity is needed regarding India's allegations of Pakistani involvement in the attack, which have led to diplomatic tensions, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, the cutting of trade ties, and border closures. He stressed that the evidence must substantiate any claims of Pakistani involvement and criticized mere statements as insufficient. In addition, Andrew Korybko, an independent analyst based in Moscow, noted concerning remarks made by Pakistani officials. He highlighted that while one official suggested the attackers may be "freedom fighters," another alleged that the incident could have been a "false flag operation." Korybko emphasized the contradictions in Pakistan's narrative regarding the attack. In a recent development, Iran has offered to mediate between India and Pakistan amid escalating diplomatic tensions, with Iran's Foreign Minister describing both countries as "brotherly neighbors" and expressing Tehran's readiness to promote understanding during these challenging times. The relationship between India and Pakistan has soured significantly following the Pahalgam attack, which was executed by terrorists from the Resistance Front, an affiliate of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
In the wake of the attack, India implemented several punitive measures, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and the reduction of its mission in Islamabad, in light of the cross-border connections to the attack. Pakistan, in response, announced various countermeasures, including halting all bilateral agreements and trade activities, alongside closing its airspace to Indian flights.
New18