Pakistan Hints at UNSC Move Over Worsening Relations with India

Pakistan on Friday asserted its right to request a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting at an appropriate time, amid escalating tensions with India following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

At a press conference, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, responded to a question on whether Islamabad intended to formally ask the UNSC to convene in light of the deteriorating situation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The recent terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 claimed the lives of 26 people and has intensified bilateral tensions.

“This entire situation is unfolding within the broader context of the ongoing issues in Jammu and Kashmir,” Ahmad said. “Given the current state of affairs, we view the evolving developments as a serious threat to regional and global peace and security. In this light, we believe that the Security Council has a clear mandate to address such threats, and that it would be entirely legitimate for any of its members — including Pakistan — to call for a discussion on the matter.”

Ahmad noted that Pakistan has already engaged in discussions with several Council members, including the presidents of the UNSC for both the previous and current months. “We are monitoring developments closely and reserve the right to formally seek a Council meeting when we deem the time appropriate,” he added.

While Ahmad addressed the primary diplomatic concerns, he sidestepped a question from PTI regarding recent controversial comments made by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. In a television interview with Sky News, Asif had admitted that Pakistan had, for decades, carried out “dirty work” for Western nations — a statement widely interpreted as referencing the country’s involvement in supporting and funding militant groups during the Cold War and beyond. When pressed about this comment, Ahmad refrained from offering a direct response.

In a related development, Greece — which holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of May — expressed concern over the situation between India and Pakistan. Greek Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, the country’s Permanent Representative to the UN, told reporters that the Security Council might meet sooner rather than later to address the tensions. He noted that such a meeting could provide a platform for expressing perspectives and potentially contribute to easing hostilities.

“If a formal request is made, we believe the meeting should happen,” Sekeris said during a briefing on the Council’s upcoming agenda. “This could be an opportunity for dialogue and perhaps even a step toward de-escalation.” He added that Greece is preparing for such possibilities and remains in close contact with concerned parties.

The comments come at a sensitive moment in South Asia, as both India and Pakistan have historically clashed over the Kashmir region, and recent violence has reignited international attention on their long-standing dispute.