'LeT Involved?' UN Security Council Blasts Pakistan Over Pahalgam

New Delhi:

The United Nations Security Council came down heavily on Pakistan at a closed-door consultation over tensions with India and the Pahalgam terror attack, news agency ANI reported, citing sources. The members grilled Islamabad over Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba's involvement in last month's Pahalgam attack, in which 25 tourists and a Kashmiri pony ride operator were killed by terrorists in cold blood.

Islamabad's attempts to internationalise the situation failed with the members of the global security body flagging Pakistan's nuclear rhetoric as an escalatory factor. They also expressed concern over Pakistan's recent missile tests, the report said.

Pakistan, one of the 10 non-permanent members of the council, had requested the UNSC's Greek presidency for "closed consultations" in view of the tensions with India.

The other members of the UNSC include the veto-wielding permanent ones, China, France, Russia, UK, and the US. Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Somalia are among its non-permanent members.

During the talks that lasted for over an hour, the UNSC members condemned the terror attack and highlighted the need for accountability. They also brought up that the tourists were targeted in Pahalgam based on their religion, the report said.

They refused to accept Pakistan's "false flag" narrative on Pahalgam and asked it to sort out its issues bilaterally with India.

Briefing the media after the UNSC talks, Pakistani envoy Asim Iftikhar said his country has rejected all allegations of involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack. He also called India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty a violation of international law.

No official statement has yet been issued either by the Security Council or India.

After the meeting, Tunisian diplomat Khaled Mohamed Khiari said that the situation was "volatile" and there was a call for "dialogue and peaceful resolution of the conflict."

Greek envoy Evangelos Sekeris, the Security Council's President for May, called the meeting "productive and helpful".

"We hope for de-escalation," a Russian diplomat said.

Ahead of the talks, UN chief Antonio Guterres had said that "a military solution is not a solution" and called on both countries to show maximum restraint and "step back from the brink". "It pains me to see relations reaching a boiling point," he had said.

Condemning the terror attack, Guterres had said he understands the "raw feelings". "Targeting civilians is unacceptable - and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible and lawful means," he had said.

The April 22 Pahalgam attack was one of the deadliest in decades and left the world in shock. India had suspended the Indus Waters Treaty after the massacre as terror links to Pakistan emerged, and cancelled visas of Pakistanis living in India.