UN Security Council Concerned Over India-Pakistan Tensions; Meeting Possible, Says President
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is closely monitoring the growing tensions between India and Pakistan, and a meeting on the situation remains a possibility, said Evangelos Sekeris, the newly appointed President of the Council and Greece’s Permanent Representative to the UN.
Speaking at a press conference after assuming the Council presidency for May, Sekeris acknowledged the seriousness of the current situation in South Asia and left open the option for a formal discussion.
“With the plain logic, this is something which might probably happen,” he said, in response to a question about a potential Council meeting on the escalating bilateral tensions.
Sekeris emphasized that the Council is “seriously concerned” about the ongoing friction and would remain receptive to any official request for such a session. He noted that any future meeting would be conducted in accordance with the Council’s mandate to uphold international peace and security.
India’s Position and Council Limitations
India has consistently opposed third-party involvement in its bilateral disputes with Pakistan, citing the 1972 Simla Agreement, under which both nations committed to resolving differences bilaterally. Consequently, India would be expected to object to any formal UNSC meeting on the issue.
Nonetheless, under the UN Charter, the Security Council has the authority to convene meetings on matters that threaten international peace, even if a member state opposes external mediation.
In practical terms, however, significant Council action is unlikely. Permanent members such as the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Russia are generally reluctant to engage in matters that India regards as sovereign or bilateral. China may be the exception, given its strategic alignment with Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Role and Terrorism Concerns
Sekeris acknowledged the complexity of the issue, particularly with Pakistan currently serving as an elected member of the Security Council. He stated:
“It’s a difficult subject, but we are very receptive to any request. And if a meeting of the Security Council does take place, it would offer an opportunity for views to be expressed, which might help to diffuse tensions.”
He warned that if de-escalation does not occur, an extraordinary Council meeting could follow as part of the UN’s responsibility to preserve global peace.
The Council President also referred to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 people dead. He reiterated the Council’s condemnation of the attack, calling it a “heinous” act, and affirmed that Greece also denounces terrorism in all forms.
On the Absence of Naming Terror Groups
When asked why the Council’s condemnation of the Pahalgam attack did not mention The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba-linked group that claimed responsibility, Sekeris responded that Council press statements are adopted unanimously and involve confidential negotiations.
“You cannot comment on the various stages of the negotiation. The important thing is that a statement was issued unanimously. With a member state involved in the conflict, such compromises are sometimes inevitable,” he said.
The omission has raised concerns about the credibility of international efforts to hold specific terror groups accountable, particularly in light of Pakistan’s role in the Council deliberations.
