UNSC on Pahalgam attack: 'Need to bring perpetrators, organisers, financiers & sponsors of terrorism to justice'

The UN Security Council has strongly condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, in which Pakistani and local terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists.

The Council emphasised the need to hold the perpetrators, organisers, and sponsors of “this reprehensible act of terrorism” accountable and bring them to justice.

The 15-member UN Security Council said in a statement on Friday that all forms of terrorism are a serious threat to global peace and security.

“The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, during which at least 26 people were killed and many more injured,” it said in the press statement.

A press statement is a message to the media from the UNSC president, speaking for all 15 members. Pakistan is currently a non-permanent member of the Council.

The UNSC members expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and the governments of India and Nepal, and wished a speedy and full recovery to the injured.

They also underlined the need to hold the perpetrators, organisers, financiers, and sponsors of “this reprehensible act of terrorism” accountable and bring them to justice.

The UNSC stressed that those responsible for the killings should be held accountable and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard.

The members reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever, and by whomsoever committed.

They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat, by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law — including international human rights law, international refugee law, and international humanitarian law — threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed in Tuesday’s Pahalgam terror attack, which triggered widespread outrage within India and abroad.

India later uncovered “cross-border links” in the terror attack, and Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyaba’s proxy group, The Resistance Group, claimed responsibility.

New Delhi announced a raft of punitive measures against Pakistan, including the expulsion of Pakistani military attachés, suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, and immediate closure of the Attari land-transit post, in view of the cross-border links to the terror attack.

In response to India’s actions, Pakistan on Thursday decided to shut its airspace to all Indian airlines and suspended trade with New Delhi, including through third countries.

Pakistan also rejected India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and said any measures to stop the flow of water belonging to Pakistan under the pact would be seen as an “act of war”.