Strong Message From UN Security Council After Pahalgam Terror Attack

The 15-member Council made a Press Statement in which the members “condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir” on April 22.

United Nations:

The UNSC has “strongly condemned” the terrorist strike in Jammu and Kashmir, emphasizing that perpetrators must be brought to book and the organisers and sponsors of this “abominable act of terrorism” should be brought to justice.

“The Security Council members emphasized the importance of bringing perpetrators, organisers, sponsors and financiers of this heinous act of terrorism to justice and holding them accountable,” said the press statement.

“They emphasized that those accountable for these murders must be held accountable, and called on all States, in line with their duties under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to act actively in cooperation with all competent authorities in this sense,” it stated.

A press statement is an announcement to the press by the President of the Security Council on behalf of all 15 Members.

France holds the presidency of Council in the month of April and the press release was made by Council President Permanent Representative of France to the UN Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont.

It is learned that the US had circulated the draft statement, which was thereafter debated by Council members. Pakistan is presently a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. A press statement must be agreed to by all Council members and is a negotiated document. The Security Council members conveyed their utmost sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of Nepal and the Government of India, and wished quick and complete recovery to those who were injured. During the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, 25 Indian and one Nepali national were killed. The victims were all tourists from all over India.

They reiterated the requirement for every State to fight by all available means, in line with the Charter of the United Nations and other legal obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security resulting from acts of terrorism. “And we, of course, once again condemn the attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, which, as you know, 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.”