Pakistan says largely achieved after closed-door UNSC meeting

The UN Security Council recently held a private meeting at Pakistan’s request, as tensions with India have risen sharply after a deadly attack in Kashmir and India’s suspension of a major water treaty.

Pakistan, currently a non-permanent member of the 15-member Council, asked for the emergency session. All Council members, including the five permanent ones, attended the meeting.

Pakistan’s UN Ambassador “Asim Iftikhar” briefed the Council and later told the media that the meeting had “largely served and achieved” Pakistan’s goals. He shared that some members agreed on the need to resolve issues like the Kashmir conflict peacefully and in line with “UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.”

He also said that “regional stability cannot be sustained through unilateralism” but needs diplomacy and respect for international law. India has not yet responded to the meeting.

The latest flare-up began after 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, were killed on April 22 in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan but gave no evidence. Pakistan has denied involvement and called for a neutral investigation.

In response, India suspended the 1960 “Indus Water Treaty,” which had governed water sharing between the two countries. Pakistan considers this move an “act of war” and has placed its military on alert. Minister “Attaullah Tarar” said intelligence suggests India might initiate war soon.

Pakistan filed a complaint at the UN over India’s suspension of the treaty. Ambassador Iftikhar stressed that “Water is life not a weapon” and reminded the UN that over 240 million Pakistanis depend on these rivers. Any disruption would be an aggressive act and a dangerous precedent for other nations sharing rivers.

He also pointed out that the Kashmir conflict continues to cause instability. He said Kashmiris face “gross human rights violations,” including “extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture,” and more, and are denied their right to self-determination.

Meanwhile, Pakistan gained support from the “Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC),” which called India’s accusations “unfounded” and urged resolution of the Kashmir issue according to “UNSC resolutions.”

The Kashmir dispute remains a major reason behind the long-standing conflict and mistrust between the two countries, who’ve fought multiple wars over the region.

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