ISLAMABAD: In a rare and significant development, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has officially acknowledged Jammu and Kashmir as a "disputed territory" while issuing a strong condemnation of the recent violence in the region. The Council’s statement followed the April 22 Pahalgam incident, where unidentified gunmen opened fire, resulting in civilian casualties.
In its press release issued on April 26, the UNSC condemned the incident and extended its sympathies to the victims and their families. Importantly, the Council reiterated its longstanding position on Jammu and Kashmir as a territory under dispute between India and Pakistan. This phrasing is being hailed in Pakistan as a major diplomatic victory, especially as it comes amidst renewed tensions and diplomatic sparring between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Pakistan’s Diplomatic Win
Pakistan’s diplomatic corps reportedly played a critical role in shaping the language of the UNSC’s statement. According to diplomatic sources, India had lobbied to frame the incident strictly as a terror attack occurring within its sovereign territory of “Pahalgam, India” — an attempt to reinforce its claim over the region. However, Pakistan pushed back, insisting that any reference to the location include the term “Jammu and Kashmir,” thereby highlighting its disputed status under international law.
The final version of the UNSC statement avoided attributing blame to any specific actor and instead called on “all relevant authorities” to cooperate in addressing the situation. This language, observers say, blocked India’s attempt to isolate and accuse Pakistan directly in the international arena.
Another significant aspect was the timing of the statement. While India pushed for an immediate condemnation following the April 22 incident, the UNSC released its response only on April 26. Analysts suggest this delay reflected internal debate among Council members and successful lobbying by Pakistan to ensure balanced and impartial language.
UNSC Statement Highlights
In its statement, the UNSC declared: “Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.” The Council urged all nations to act in accordance with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, and to cooperate with “all relevant authorities” to combat terrorism.
A United Nations official confirmed that the organisation remains “deeply concerned” about developments in the region and called for restraint from both India and Pakistan. “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,” said UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric during a press briefing in New York.
Implications for the Region
The UNSC’s explicit reference to Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory marks a diplomatic setback for India, which maintains that the region is an integral part of its territory following the revocation of Article 370 in 2019. On the other hand, Pakistan sees the statement as a reaffirmation of international support for its position on Kashmir.
The incident has once again brought the decades-old Kashmir dispute back to the forefront of international attention, highlighting the volatility of the region and the importance of sustained diplomatic engagement.
