NEW YORK: India has faced a diplomatic setback at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) following the Pahalgam incident, as Pakistan and China successfully blocked New Delhi’s attempts to shape the Council’s statement in its favour.
Pakistan, a non-permanent member of the UNSC, coordinated closely with China to ensure that the language of the statement remained neutral, diplomatic sources cited by media said. The final text avoided strong terminology that had previously been used against Pakistan.
The statement, initially proposed by the United States, refrained from directly naming the Indian government, instead referring to “all relevant authorities.”
This marked a significant diplomatic blow to India, which had lobbied to have the Indian government explicitly mentioned.
Diplomatic officials said Pakistan successfully pressed for the inclusion of the phrase “Jammu and Kashmir” in the statement.
In contrast, India’s attempt to include the term “Pahalgam” — aimed at presenting the occupied region as an uncontested part of India — was unsuccessful.
The final statement, issued four days after the April 22 attack, avoided endorsing India’s narrative.
Pakistan’s diplomatic mission worked actively with other Council members to oppose biased language.
Officials said that through a coordinated strategy, Islamabad and Beijing managed to dilute the original draft, preventing India from leveraging the attack for political advantage at the international forum.
The UN Security Council statement condemned terrorism in all forms and called for those responsible for the Pahalgam attack to be brought to justice.
However, it notably avoided any direct reference to Pakistan, despite Indian efforts.
Pakistan has firmly denied any involvement in the Pahalgam incident. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that Pakistan is ready for a “neutral, transparent and credible” investigation into the incident, rejecting India’s allegations as unfounded.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that the situation, if not carefully managed, could escalate into “all-out war.”
Reports indicate that the original draft statement led by the United States was intended to provide stronger support for India.
Meanwhile, tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours continue to escalate. Following the Pahalgam attack, India unilaterally suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, and Pakistan responded by closing its airspace to Indian airlines.
