UNSC holds closed-door consultations amid escalating India-Pakistan tensions after Pahalgam terror attack

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 meeting, convened at Pakistan's request, was held in a consultation room adjacent to the UNSC Chamber. 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.


Assistant secretary-general Khaled Mohamed Khiari of Tunisia, representing the departments of political and peacebuilding affairs (DPPA) and peace operations (DPO), will brief the Council.

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,"

Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN, ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, is expected to brief reporters following the closed consultations.