Pakistan, backed by China, dilutes UNSC statement

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The UN Security Council condemned the Pahalgam attack in Jammu & Kashmir, but Pakistan, supported by China, worked to dilute the statement’s phrasing. Unlike the Pulwama attack condemnation, which urged cooperation with the Indian government, the Pahalgam statement only mentioned “all relevant authorities.” This change followed tough negotiations, with Pakistan likely seeking to avoid giving India leverage in investigations.

Pakistan, a non-permanent member of UN Security Council, joined other member-states in strongly condemning the Pahalgam attack but not before working to water it down with help from China. Pakistan, which has denied any role in the massacre, had so far only expressed concern at the loss of life.

The council underlined the need for international collaboration to bring the perpetrators of the “reprehensible act of terrorism” to justice. However, while UNSC’s condemnation of the 2019 Pulwama attack had called upon all states to cooperate actively with the “government of India” in that regard, on this occasion it only mentioned “all relevant authorities”.

Pak-China tried to dilute UNSC statement phrasing

In the case of Pulwama, the condemnation statement sought cooperation with both 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 learned 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 last month, 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 New Delhi a stick to beat it with. Instead of backing Indian investigations, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Saturday his country 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 & 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 J&K, the term India uses for the Union Territory and erstwhile state. The rest of the statement was as per the standard format used by UNSC for condemning such terror attacks. Like in the case of Pulwama, the council said in its Pahalgam statement, too, that the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of the “reprehensible act of terrorism” had to be held accountable and brought to justice.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson said Saturday that UN continued to monitor developments in the region “with very deep concern” and urged India and Pakistan to exercise the maximum restraint to ensure the situation does not deteriorate further.

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