At least 26 people were killed in the Pahalgam terror assault in Jammu and Kashmir, including 24 Indian tourists and a Nepalese national. It was the bloodiest event in the area since Article 370 was repealed, and the UN Security Council (UNSC) strongly condemned the act.
However, the UNSC statement’s wording became a source of diplomatic tension as Pakistan, a non-permanent member of the Council at the moment, closely collaborated with China to soften the statement’s wording and prevent any direct benefit to India.
The Pahalgam statement merely mentioned “all relevant authorities” while calling for international cooperation to bring the culprits to justice, in contrast to the UNSC’s response to the 2019 Pulwama incident, which specifically called on all governments to work with the “Government of India.”
Intense talks led to this change in wording, as China and Pakistan opposed any direct mention of the Indian government out of concern that it would strengthen New Delhi’s diplomatic stance on Kashmir.
Additionally, by using the phrase “Jammu and Kashmir” rather than “Indian-administered Kashmir,” the statement indirectly acknowledged Pakistan’s role in the area and reaffirmed its internationally contested status.
At first, Pakistan, which has flatly denied any role in the attack, only responded by voicing concern over the deaths. Later, instead of endorsing an Indian-led investigation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan was amenable to a “neutral and transparent” inquiry. This strategy aligned with Islamabad’s endeavors to guarantee that the UNSC declaration did not specifically mention India or support its territorial claims.
The remainder of the UNSC statement adhered to the customary format for denouncing terrorist acts, restating that terrorism in all its manifestations poses a serious threat to global peace and security, and highlighting that such acts are illegal and unacceptable regardless of their cause or perpetrator. The need to punish offenders, organizers, supporters, and financiers accountable was reaffirmed by the Security Council.
The episode highlights the ongoing geopolitical struggle between China and Pakistan at the UN, where China and Pakistan have consistently contested India’s efforts to isolate Islamabad over Kashmir.
India, which had hoped for a louder declaration of its territorial claims and a more direct appeal for collaboration with its administration, saw the UNSC’s cautiously neutral wording—which was influenced by Chinese and Pakistani intervention—as a diplomatic loss.
In the meantime, the UN and its Secretary-General have persisted in advising India and Pakistan to use the utmost caution in order to stop the situation from getting worse.
