The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Monday held a closed-door emergency session to discuss the sharp escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, most of them tourists.
The meeting, convened at the request of Pakistan, comes amid mounting international concern over the potential for further instability in the region. Islamabad has cited India’s recent retaliatory steps—including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and the halting of water flow from key dams—as evidence of what it called “aggressive unilateral actions.”
India has firmly blamed Pakistan-based terror groups for the Pahalgam attack, accusing Islamabad of continuing to provide safe haven and support to cross-border terrorism. In response, New Delhi suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, halted the flow of water from the Baglihar and Salal Dams into the Chenab River, expelled several Pakistani diplomats, and imposed a complete ban on bilateral trade.
Satellite imagery shared with the UNSC reportedly confirms a significant reduction in water levels in the Chenab River near Sialkot, triggering concern in Pakistan over its implications for agriculture and hydropower.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, addressing the media after the session, called for de-escalation and urged the international community to play a constructive role in ensuring peace. “We seek dialogue, not conflict,” he said.
The UNSC had earlier issued a statement on April 23 condemning the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, reaffirming its stance that terrorism in all forms remains a serious threat to international peace and security.
With both India and Pakistan being nuclear-armed neighbours and having a fraught history of conflict over Kashmir, the developments have drawn close attention from global powers. While the UNSC has not released any fresh resolution following today’s meeting, the gravity of the situation was reflected in the council’s decision to hold a dedicated session on the issue.
Diplomatic observers say that while tensions remain high, sustained international engagement and backchannel dialogue could offer a path to de-escalation in the days ahead.
