NEW DELHI: The United Nations Security Council on Monday held closed-door consultations on the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, just hours after secretary-general António Guterres warned that relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours were "at their highest in years."
The closed-door meeting, which lasted around an hour and a half, was held in a consultations room adjacent to the United Nations Security Council Chamber, rather than at the usual horse-shoe table where Council members meet.
Although the 15-member UNSC did not release a statement after the meeting, India said, "Pakistan’s grandstanding has flopped again today as in the past."
Greece, which holds the council presidency for May, scheduled the session in the wake of rising cross-border tensions following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
A Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations and the current UNSC president, ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, described it as a "productive meeting, helpful".
Last week, Sekeris had said that a meeting of the Council on the situation would be an "opportunity to have views expressed and this might help to diffuse a bit tensions."
Assistant secretary-general Khaled Mohamed Khiari of Tunisia, representing the departments of political and peacebuilding affairs (DPPA) and peace operations (DPO), briefed the Council.
Meanwhile, before the UNSC meeting, India’s former permanent representative to the UN, ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, told news agency PTI that no "consequential outcome" was likely from "a discussion where a party to the conflict seeks to shape perceptions by using its membership of the Council. India will parry such Pakistani efforts."
After the meeting, he said, "Pakistan’s grandstanding has flopped again today as in the past. As was expected there was no meaningful response by the Council. Indian diplomacy has yet again successfully parried Pakistani efforts to seek the Security Council’s intervention."
However, Pakistan stated after the meeting that its objectives were "largely served."
Earlier in the day, Guterres addressed reporters from the security council stakeout, expressing deep concern over the situation. "it pains me to see relations reaching a boiling point," he said. He described the Pahalgam attack as "awful" and extended his condolences to the victims' families, calling the targeting of civilians "unacceptable."
"Targeting civilians is unacceptable – and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible and lawful means," he said.
Guterres urged both countries to avoid any military escalation. "Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink. That has been my message in my ongoing outreach with both countries. Make no mistake: A military solution is no solution."
In addition to the five permanent members with veto power — China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US — the 10 non-permanent members of the UN Security Council are Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Somalia.
The closed-door meeting, which lasted around an hour and a half, was held in a consultations room adjacent to the United Nations Security Council Chamber, rather than at the usual horse-shoe table where Council members meet.
Although the 15-member UNSC did not release a statement after the meeting, India said, "Pakistan’s grandstanding has flopped again today as in the past."
Greece, which holds the council presidency for May, scheduled the session in the wake of rising cross-border tensions following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
VIDEO | New York: Visuals show diplomats arriving at the UN Security Council consultations room for closed-door discussions on the ongoing situation between India and Pakistan.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 5, 2025
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/oC4rv0d2VG
A Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations and the current UNSC president, ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, described it as a "productive meeting, helpful".
Last week, Sekeris had said that a meeting of the Council on the situation would be an "opportunity to have views expressed and this might help to diffuse a bit tensions."
Assistant secretary-general Khaled Mohamed Khiari of Tunisia, representing the departments of political and peacebuilding affairs (DPPA) and peace operations (DPO), briefed the Council.
Meanwhile, before the UNSC meeting, India’s former permanent representative to the UN, ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, told news agency PTI that no "consequential outcome" was likely from "a discussion where a party to the conflict seeks to shape perceptions by using its membership of the Council. India will parry such Pakistani efforts."
After the meeting, he said, "Pakistan’s grandstanding has flopped again today as in the past. As was expected there was no meaningful response by the Council. Indian diplomacy has yet again successfully parried Pakistani efforts to seek the Security Council’s intervention."
However, Pakistan stated after the meeting that its objectives were "largely served."
Earlier in the day, Guterres addressed reporters from the security council stakeout, expressing deep concern over the situation. "it pains me to see relations reaching a boiling point," he said. He described the Pahalgam attack as "awful" and extended his condolences to the victims' families, calling the targeting of civilians "unacceptable."
"Targeting civilians is unacceptable – and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible and lawful means," he said.
Guterres urged both countries to avoid any military escalation. "Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink. That has been my message in my ongoing outreach with both countries. Make no mistake: A military solution is no solution."
In addition to the five permanent members with veto power — China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US — the 10 non-permanent members of the UN Security Council are Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Somalia.
You may also like
Iran foreign minister takes first strike in Pakistan as 'mediator', to land in Delhi today
Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti question 'mass detentions' after Pahalgam attack
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer delivers savage eight-word dig after beating Jose Mourinho
Lewis Hamilton releases emotional statement about new job away from F1
Mushrooms will last longer and not go slimy if kept away from 1 vegetable
