New York [US] : Facing mounting international pressure after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, Pakistan has formally requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to discuss escalating tensions with India. The UNSC is set to hold closed-door consultations on Monday, May 5
According to a statement from Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad will address the media at the Security Council stakeout following the session. The mission cited a “deteriorating regional environment” and an increasing risk of escalation in Jammu and Kashmir as the basis for requesting the meeting. The statement warned of a threat to both regional and international peace and security.
This comes in the wake of a strong international reaction to the April 23 Pahalgam terror attack. The UNSC had condemned the attack in a statement, expressing condolences to the victims’ families and the governments of India and Nepal. The Council emphasized the need to hold the perpetrators and their sponsors accountable, reaffirming that terrorism remains a grave threat to international peace and security.
In response to the attack, India has taken a series of sweeping countermeasures targeting Pakistan. Following a high-level Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 and closed the integrated Attari Check Post. Pakistani High Commission officials in India were declared persona non grata and ordered to leave within a week.
The Indian government also revoked visas issued under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme and suspended all visa services for Pakistani nationals. Further escalating the situation, India imposed a complete ban on the import and transit of goods from Pakistan.
A Gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on May 4 stated:
“In exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 read with Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992… the Central Government hereby inserts a new Para 2.20A in the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023… prohibiting the direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, with immediate effect.”
The move is aimed at safeguarding national security and public policy, and any exceptions to this ban will require prior approval from the Government of India.