Pakistan waters down UNSC's Pahalgam statement with help from China

Pakistan, serving as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, united with other member nations to vehemently denounce the Pahalgam attack. However, this condemnation was influenced by discussions with China aimed at softening the language used, The Times of India reported on April 27.

While Pakistan has firmly denied any involvement in the deadly incident, its previous statements had only conveyed concern over the tragic loss of life.

The Security Council emphasised the importance of global cooperation to ensure that those responsible for the "reprehensible act of terrorism" are brought to justice. In contrast to the UNSC's earlier assertion following the 2019 Pulwama attack, which called for all nations to collaborate with the "government of India," this recent statement referenced "all relevant authorities" without specifying India.

Efforts by Pakistan and China were evident in their attempts to adjust the phrasing of the UNSC statement, ToI's report (by Sachin Parashar) pointed out.

During the Pulwama incident, the Security Council had explicitly called for collaboration with both the Indian government and relevant local authorities. The council noted, "Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security," asserting that such acts are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations, timing, or perpetrators.

There are indications that the consensus on the statement, initiated by the United States, resulted from intense negotiations, with Pakistan collaborating with China to modify the wording. In past condemnations of terrorist acts, including the Pulwama attack and the Jaffar Express train bombing in Pakistan, the council had consistently urged all nations to actively support the local government rather than just relevant authorities.

It is likely that Islamabad was concerned that a direct reference to the Indian government would provide New Delhi with ammunition against it, ToI's report said. Instead of supporting India's investigative efforts, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif remarked on Saturday that his nation remains open to a "neutral and transparent" investigation into the Pahalgam attack.

In the statement regarding Pahalgam, the council condemned the "terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir" in the strongest possible terms. Conversely, during the Pulwama incident, the council condemned the "heinous and cowardly suicide bombing" with similar fervor. On both occasions, the attacks were characterised as occurring in J&K, the nomenclature used by India for the Union Territory and former state.

The remainder of the statement adhered to the conventional format the UNSC employs when denouncing acts of terrorism. As with the Pulwama case, the council reiterated in its Pahalgam statement that those who perpetrate, organise, finance, and sponsor such "reprehensible acts of terrorism" must be held accountable and face justice.

A spokesperson for the UN said on Saturday that the organisation continues to observe developments in the region "with very deep concern," urging both India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint to prevent any further escalation of the situation.