By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is pressing for an emergency United Nations Security Council session to address escalating tensions with India, fueled by a murky incident in occupied Kashmir and New Delhi’s abrupt suspension of a critical water-sharing treaty.
The move signals Islamabad’s bid to rally global support amid fears that the nuclear-armed neighbours are inching toward bigger conflict.
Pakistan’s call for UN intervention follows a flurry of diplomatic outreach, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar leaning on allies like Malaysia, Russia, and Iran to amplify their narrative.
Sharif, in a Sunday call with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, rejected any link to the Pahalgam event and urged a transparent international probe. Dar, in talks with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan and Russia’s Sergey Lavrov, stressed Islamabad’s commitment to peace while reserving the right to protect its sovereignty.
Today, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi arrives in Islamabad for talks with Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, and Dar. The visit, a Foreign Office statement said, reflects deep Pakistan-Iran ties and a shared interest in regional stability. Araghchi’s itinerary also includes a stop in India later this week, hinting at Tehran’s potential role as a mediator.
At issue is India’s claim that Pakistan orchestrated the Pahalgam incident that killed 26 civilians, a charge Islamabad vehemently denies. India’s decision to halt the Indus Waters Treaty—a 1960 accord governing shared river resources—has further inflamed the crisis, with Pakistan accusing its neighbour of weaponising water access.
The Pakistani foreign ministry said Islamabad has decided to formally brief the UNSC on the current situation in South Asia, and Dar has instructed Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, to arrange for it.
“Pakistan will inform the UN Security Council about India’s aggressive actions, provocations and inflammatory statements,” the foreign ministry said. “Pakistan will clarify how India’s aggressive actions are jeopardising peace and security in South Asia and beyond the region.”
Islamabad will specifically highlight at the UNSC meeting India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, which ensures water for 80 percent of Pakistani farmland.
“This important diplomatic move is part of Pakistan’s efforts to present accurate facts to the international community,” the foreign ministry added.
Greece, which holds the council’s presidency this month, last week told Dawn newspaper that a session could come “sooner rather than later” and “might help to diffuse a bit of tension” by giving all sides a chance to speak.
“Of course, if a request comes for a meeting then… I think this meeting should take place because, as we said, maybe it`s also an opportunity to have views expressed, and this might help to diffuse a bit of tension. We will see, Permanent Representative of Greece to the UN and President of the Security Council for the month of May,” Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, Greece’s UN representative, told Dawn.
Copyright © 2021 Independent Pakistan | All rights reserved
