International pressure on Pakistan: India

New Delhi: With the UN Security Council including Islam-abad’s all-weather friend China late on Thursday night unanimously condemning “in the strongest terms” the “heinous and cowardly” Pulwama bom-bing and accepting that the (Pakistan-based terror outfit) Jaish-e-Mohamm-med (JeM) had claimed responsibility for the terror attack, India — bolstered by its huge diplomatic success — on Friday said Pakistan has come under “international pressure to act against terrorists and terror groups op-erating from areas under its control and to take act-ion against those responsible for the Pulwama attack”.

What has come as a major boost to New Delhi is that China also eventually supported the resolution desp-ite the fact that it, according to sources, had initial reservations about the wording of the resolution.

Sources said China was initially reluctant to agree to the JeM being named and also wanted Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to be referred to as “Indian-administered Kashmir”. But New Delhi stood firm against this and finally succeeded, with the resolution naming the JeM and also referring to “Jammu and Kashmir”, thereby leaving Pakistan red-faced.

Indian government sources pointed out that the UNSC resolution contained “specific language that India had proposed via partner countries including on the naming of JeM, and bringing perpetrators to justice”. Sources said India along with its close strategic partners had been working on this for the past few days.

The UN Security Council in its resolution conveyed its “deepest sympathy and condolences” to the government and people of India and “reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security”. Holding that “any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation”, the UNSC “underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice”.       

China, meanwhile, appe-ared to downplay the UNSC resolution which it was a party to, saying the mention of the Pakistan-based outfit was only in “general terms” and “does not represent a judgm-ent”. China’s foreign ministry spokesman Geng Sh-uang was quoted by news agencies as saying in Bei-jing, “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.” The remark is being seen as an attempt by China to placate Paki-stan and play down the indictment of the JeM.

Commenting on the developments that took place at the UN late on Thursday, India’s Ambass-ador and Perm-anent Representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin tweeted on Friday, “A statement with many firsts takes more time than expected. In complex diplomatic situations, however, it is better to be late than never.” Sources said the United States played a major role in moving the resolution, with reports suggesting that France too played an important role.

The UNSC includes five permanent members — the US, Russia, UK, France and China.   

The UNSC resolution has also led to intense speculation whether China may finally relent and soon agree to get JeM chief and Pakistan-based terrorist Masood Azhar banned by the UN. But this may not be so easy despite India’s latest diplomatic success. China has so far been blocking efforts in this regard. Speculation is rife that India along with its strategic partners like the US and France could soon once again move a resolution at the UN to get Azhar banned.

The pressure being brought on Pakistan can be seen from the fact that Islamabad on Thursday had “decided to accelerate action against proscribed organisations” and had “further decided that Jamat-ud-Dawa and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation be notified as proscribed organisations by the ministry of interior”. The JuD is led by 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed, with the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation being described as its so-called charity wing.    

Meanwhile, Indian Government sources said, “On account of the rising diplomatic pressure from India, Pakistan is increasingly getting isolated globally and is acting in desperation to be seen as taking action.  ... Pakistan’s scrambling to put together even this cosmetic response is evidence of the coordinated diplomatic campaign that India has undertaken across multiple capitals and in Delhi. Many countries have unequivocally condemned the Pulwama attack with a  number of them directly calling for JeM to be held accountable. This diplomatic campaign has seen a specific thrust at the United Nations with the Security Council’s condemnation of the attack where India worked behind the scenes  ... .”

The UNSC resolution late on Thursday night said, “The Members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly suicide bombing which resulted in over 40 Indian paramilitary forces dead and dozens wounded on February 14, 2019, for which Jaish-e-Mohammmed has claimed responsibility.”

It also “reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security” besides “Underlining the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice”. The UNSC resolution “urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Government of India and all other relevant authorities in this regard” and “reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed”. The UNSC also “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”.

On Friday, MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, “Pakistan comes under international pressure to act against terrorists and terror groups operating from areas under its control and to take action against those responsible for Pulwama attack”.