Powerful Message from UN Security Council Following Pahalgam Terror Attack
The 15-member Council released a Press Statement in which the members "strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir" on April 22.
United Nations:
The UNSC “deplored in the strongest terms” the Jammu and Kashmir terrorist act, emphasizing that those who had done it must be held responsible and the planners and patrons of this “shameful act of terrorism” must be held to account.
The 15-member Council made a Press Statement on ‘terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’ in which the members “deplored in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir” on April 22, in which at least 26 people were killed and several others injured.
“The members of the Security Council emphasized holding to account those perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of this abominable act of terrorism and making them face justice,” the press release stated.
“They emphasized that the perpetrators of such killings must be held accountable and called upon all States, in accordance with their duties under international law and related Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this respect,” it added.
A press statement is a statement to the press issued by the President of the Security Council on behalf of all 15 Members.
France holds the Presidency of the Council during April and the press release was made by Council President Permanent Representative of France to the UN Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont.
It is understood that the US had circulated the draft statement, which was thereafter debated among Council members.
Pakistan is now in the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member. A press statement is a negotiated text and must be agreed upon by all members of the Council.
The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of India and the Government of Nepal, and wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured. In the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were killed. The victims were mostly tourists from all across India.
UNSC members reiterated that terrorism in its various forms and manifestations is one of the gravest threats to international peace and security. The members reiterated that any terrorist acts are criminal and inadmissible, no matter what their motivations are, wherever, whenever, and by whoever perpetrated them.
They reaffirmed that all States need to fight against by all available means, according to the United Nations Charter and other international obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security due to acts of terrorism.
At the same time, Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, answering a question concerning the India-Pakistan situation during the daily press briefing Friday, stated that “we continue to follow the situation with very deep concern”.
“And we, of course, reaffirm our condemnation of the Jammu and Kashmir attacks, which, as you are aware, resulted in the deaths of approximately 26 civilians. And we again call on both the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan to use maximum restraint to prevent the situation from further deteriorating.”
In response to a query on whether the Secretary-General, who is in Rome now to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, will address leaders of India and Pakistan when he returns to New York, Dujarric stated, “I hope to have something to tell you” on that.
Dujarric dismissed a suggestion that the “two nuclear countries” would engage in war, and the issue is deserving such minimal attention.
“Let me just say, I don’t share your comment. we are paying very close attention to the situation between India and Pakistan,” Dujarric said.
