In a significant diplomatic twist, India’s attempt to shape the narrative around the recent Pahalgam attack faced a major roadblock at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). According to Aaj News, Pakistan—with the backing of China—successfully countered efforts by New Delhi to frame the April 22 incident to its advantage.
After four days of deliberation, the UNSC released a carefully worded statement condemning the attack but notably stopped short of naming India or endorsing its territorial claims over Kashmir. Instead, it called for cooperation with “all relevant authorities,” a phrase that maintains diplomatic neutrality on the status of Jammu and Kashmir.
This marks a departure from past precedents, such as the 2019 Pulwama incident, where the UNSC leaned heavily on India’s narrative. This time, however, Islamabad—currently a non-permanent member of the Council—coordinated closely with Beijing to block any reference that would suggest Pahalgam lies squarely within Indian territory.
What’s more, the language used in the statement subtly acknowledges Pakistan’s position on Kashmir’s disputed status, further undermining India’s post-2019 annexation stance. New Delhi’s push to label Pahalgam as part of its sovereign territory was specifically removed, while the universally recognized term “Jammu and Kashmir” was retained.
India’s delayed condemnation of the attack—coming four days after the incident—has also raised questions about its crisis response. Meanwhile, Pakistan has firmly denied any involvement and expressed openness to a “neutral and transparent” international probe, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calling India’s accusations “baseless.”
This episode reinforces the shifting power dynamics at the UN, where Pakistan and China continue to challenge India’s efforts to solidify its claims over Kashmir, keeping the decades-old dispute very much alive on the global stage.
