JK News Today Commentary
Pakistan on the first day of 2025 assumed its seats at the UN Security Council as its non-permanent member for the next two years at a time when the world, in particular South Asian region, is passing through high velocity turbulences. Into Even in such times, the entry of any country into would not have attracted much of the commentary and adverse analysis, but given the history and its blatantly hostile intentions against India, this is a serious development.
Rising tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and its persistent anti-India attitude and approach which manifests in high-scale acts of terror throughout the length and breadth of the country, lead to a fair conclusion that Pakistan will exploit its position at the UNSC to cause more problems for India and Indians.
The most crucial period will be in July this year when Pakistan will preside over the UNSC, and also secure a seat on the Islamic State and Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee, responsible for designating, individuals and groups associated with these organisations as terrorists and imposing sanctions
It is an irony of sorts , when a country that has most of the UN designated terrorist and terror organisations – Jaish-e-Mohammad , Lashkar-e-Toiba and terror masterminds Hafiz Saeed , Masood Azhar and so many others , will sit on the decisions on terrorists and their groups .This is sheer undermining of the values and principles of the civilized world . The UN Security Council members – five permanent ones- the US, the UK, Russia, China and France – and non-permanent numbers know that who guided and hosted Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, and Taliban leader Mullah Omar at the time America was targeted with worst ever terror attack on its soil , which is known in the world vocabulary as 9/11, a short form of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, which shook the financial and military foundations of the superpower , exposing its vulnerabilities to Islamist terrorism . It was Pakistan, where both Osama and Mullah Omar had taken refuge.
Pakistan has outlined its agenda as a member of the UNSC; will raise the issue of “cross-border terrorist attacks from Afghanistan”. That is an attempt to highlight the terror attacks by TTP and other groups, having their bases in Afghanistan on Pakistani soil. Pakistan has blamed Afghanistan and its Taliban rulers mounting the cross-border attacks in Pakistan, in which it lost soldiers and civilians by dozens. But the fact also remains that TTP – Tehreek-i-Taliban, Pakistan is an entity set up by Pakistan establishment. It has been vacillating in its approach –sometimes the TTP is an organisation that is invited to talks to discuss issues and their resolutions, and on others it is seen as a proxy of Afghan Taliban. Pakistan is confused and this chaos will be echoed at the UNSC.
This also shows Pakistan’s contradiction on cross-border terrorism. Pakistan wants the world to believe that it is a victim of cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan. If, for a moment its version is to be taken seriously , how does it explain the cross-border terrorism it has unleashed on India , and especially in Jammu and Kashmir for the past over 35 years which left several thousand dead and many more maimed , million displaced . That cross-border terrorism, Pakistan denies but claims that it is merely supporting the Kashmiris through diplomacy, politics and moral obligation. If all the violence and killing of innocents is attribution of morality, politics and diplomacy, then it is easily understandable that what kind of politics and diplomacy this country pursues.
It has also made no secret of its agenda at the UNSC vis-a-vis Kashmir, as the reports have suggested that it plans to highlight what it terms as Kashmir dispute. It has indicated that it will attempt to revive the “Kashmir dispute,” as it claims that it is “one of the oldest issues on the UNSC agenda.”
The complex of Kashmir has changed drastically since August 5, 2019 when the Government of India abolished Article 370 and brought down all the barriers between the country and Jammu and Kashmir. The instrument of accession of October 1947 that was considered incomplete because of the Article 370 has been given finality. There is no question of the Article 370 getting resurrected and the question of Kashmir ever getting discussed or debated as per the UN resolutions is gone for ever.
Pakistan is aware of this reality, but it wants to continue with its nuisance. It will not leave any opportunity to do so, and this has come in the shape of its seat at the UNSC that began on January 1, 2025.
