The UN Security Council (UNSC) statement on the Pulwama terror attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) was delayed by one week due to China’s opposition.
A day after it emerged that China, an all weather ally of Pakistan, did not want a reference to the JeM in the statement of UN’s most powerful 15-nation body, which strongly condemned the Pulwama terror attack, Beijing has tried to downplay the resolution and said the mention of the Pakistan-based terror group does not represent a judgement and is only in “general terms.”
The UN condemnation came a day after Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Maleeha Lodhi met top UN leaders, including Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, to brief them about the escalating tensions in the region in the wake of the Pulwama attack but her efforts did not bear any fruit.
China has over the years used its veto power to scuttle a move by India at the UN to put Jaish-e-Mohammed founder Masood Azhar on the global terror list.
The UNSC on Thursday condemned in the “strongest terms” the “heinous and cowardly” terror attack perpetrated by JeM, in a show of solidarity and support to India.
However, the US assiduously worked as “pen holder” making various adjustments to get the approval by all other members of the UNSC, sources said here.
Sharing details of diplomatic wrangling, the sources said the UNSC statement on Pulwama was to be issued on February 15 but China repeatedly sought extension of timing. China broke “silence” procedure two times suggesting multiple amendments aiming to “derail” the effort.
“However, notwithstanding hectic Chinese and Pakistani efforts, the UNSC agreed to issue the first statement in its history regarding an attack on Indian troops in J&K,” the sources said.
The UNSC statement contained specific language proposed by India
In the statement, the UNSC also reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security and underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.
The UNSC also urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with India and all other relevant authorities to bring perpetrators of the Pulwama attack to justice. Pakistan’s Permanent representative at the UN Maleeha Lodhi even met the President of Security Council but her efforts did not bear any fruit, they said.
Asked about the statement highlighting the role of JeM claiming the responsibility of the Pulwama attack, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters that Beijing was closely following the developments related to the terror incident.
“The UN Security Council issued a Press statement that mentioned that a particular organisation but only in general terms. It does not represent a judgment on the attack,” Geng said.
He also said, “China also noted that the Pakistani Government showed readiness to cooperate with India on the investigation and that it is also ready to resolve differences with India through dialogue. China hopes all parties will work to find the truth about this attack. We hope Pakistan and India will engage in dialogue to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability,” he said.