UNSC holds closed-door talks on India-Pakistan tensions, rejects Islamabad's ‘false flag’ claim

The closed-door meeting comes amid a sharp downturn in bilateral ties following the Pahalgam attack, with the Indian government expelling Pakistani nationals on short-term visas and suspending the Indus Waters Treaty.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), late Monday night, convened for closed-door consultations to discuss the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The meeting, held at the request of Pakistan, comes in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that left 26 people dead.

This closed-door meeting, which lasted about 90 minutes, took place in a consultations room next to the UNSC Chamber.

Unlike regular meetings where Council members sit at the traditional horse-shoe table, this session was held behind closed doors. While the 15-member UNSC did not release a public statement following the meeting, Pakistan claimed that its objectives were "largely served."

Khaled Mohamed Khiari, the Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific in the UN's Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations departments, briefed the Council on behalf of both departments. He highlighted the volatile nature of the situation and emphasized the need for dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Evangelos Sekeris, Greece's Permanent Representative to the UN and the current UNSC President, described the meeting as "productive" and "helpful." He noted that the session provided an opportunity for the Council members to exchange views and potentially ease rising tensions. A Russian diplomat also expressed hopes for de-escalation following the discussions.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, stated that the country’s objectives were largely achieved. He explained that the discussions allowed Council members to address the deteriorating security situation and the importance of avoiding further confrontation. Ahmad also thanked the Council members for their calls for restraint, de-escalation, and dialogue.

Pakistan, currently a non-permanent member of the UNSC, raised several key issues during the session, including India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. Ahmad noted that "water is life, not a weapon," stressing that the rivers sustain over 240 million people in Pakistan.

He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful relations with all neighboring countries, including India, and expressed the nation’s openness to dialogue based on mutual respect and sovereign equality.

According to sources quoted by ANI, UNSC members broadly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and underscored the need for accountability.

Contrary to Islamabad's attempt to float a “false flag” narrative, Council members reportedly dismissed the claim and questioned whether the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) could have been likely involved in the heinous act that claimed the lives of 26 people.

Some Council members also expressed concern, as per the ANI sources, over the targeting of tourists in Jammu and Kashmir, allegedly based on their religious identity.

In addition, several members reportedly flagged Pakistan’s recent missile tests and escalatory nuclear rhetoric as contributing to regional instability. They also advised Islamabad to resolve outstanding issues with India through bilateral dialogue, reinforcing a longstanding global position.

Furthermore, sources cited by ANI stated that Pakistan’s efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue at the informal meeting failed to gain traction, with member states favouring de-escalation and direct engagement between the two countries.

The closed consultations were held in a room adjacent to the UNSC Chamber and were requested by Pakistan, which is currently serving as a non-permanent member of the Council. While no formal statement was issued, Pakistan claimed afterwards that its objectives had been "largely served".

Ahead of the meeting, India’s former Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, expressed skepticism about the outcome, stating that no "consequential outcome" could be expected from discussions where one party to the conflict sought to shape perceptions using its UNSC membership.

Following the meeting, he reiterated that India had successfully countered Pakistan's efforts to involve the Security Council in the matter.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking just hours before the consultations, voiced concern over the rising tensions between India and Pakistan. He remarked that relations between the two nations were at their "highest in years" and called for maximum restraint to avoid a military confrontation.

Guterres condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam's Baisaran Valley, stating that targeting civilians was "unacceptable" and that those responsible must face justice through "credible and lawful means."

The UN chief urged both countries to step back from the brink of conflict, underscoring that a military solution was not the answer. "Now is the time for maximum restraint," Guterres said.

"A military solution is no solution," he also noted.

The UNSC is made up of five permanent members with veto power - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States - and 10 non-permanent members: Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Somalia.