People take part in a candlelight protest rally condemning the Pahalgam terrorist attack, in Kolkata, Friday, April 25, 2025
Condemning the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead and 17 others injured in the “strongest terms”, the United Nation Security Council (UNSC) has sought to hold “perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.”
The 15-nation Council issued a press statement to state that the members “stressed that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable, and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard.”
The press statement was issued by Council President Permanent Representative of France to the UN Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont. The discussion on the resolution took place on a draft reportedly moved by the United States.
Interestingly, Pakistan is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. All Council members have to agree to the press statement, which is a negotiated text, before it’s put out in public domain.
The Security Council members expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of India and Government of Nepal and wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured.
The members reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.
They reaffirmed the need for all states to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
Meanwhile, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, responding to a question on the situation between India and Pakistan at the daily press briefing Friday, said that “we continue to follow the situation with very deep concern,” a news agency reported.
“And we, of course, reiterate our condemnation of the attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, which, as you know, killed about 26 civilians. And we again urge both the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint to ensure the situation does not deteriorate further.”
To a question on whether the Secretary-General, who is currently in Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, plans to speak to leaders of India and Pakistan once he is back in New York, Dujarric said, “I hope to have something to share with you” on that.
Dujarric rejected a comment that the “two nuclear countries” might go to war, and the situation is meriting such little attention.
“Let me just say, I don’t agree with your comment… We are paying very close attention to the situation between India and Pakistan,” Dujarric said.
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Published on April 26, 2025