New Delhi/United Nations, Feb 22 (UNI) Brushing aside Pakistan lobbying and apparent skirmishes raised by the Chinese side, the UN Security Council has condemned in the strongest terms, the heinous and cowardly suicide bombing in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly suicide bombing in Jammu and Kashmir, which left 40 Indian paramilitary forces dead and dozens wounded on February 14, 2019, for which Jaish-e-Mohammed has claimed responsibility,” the UN Security Council said in a statement under the title - ‘Suicide Bombing in Jammu and Kashmir’.
Pressure seems to be mounting by the day on Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has denied Pakistani involvement in the terror attack.
"There is endorsement to India's stance and hence a diplomatic success for New Delhi as the resolution adopted at the UNSC meet - attended by permanent and non permanent members including China - contained specific language that India had proposed," a diplomatic source said in Delhi.
What is seen as a matter of immense satisfaction for Indian side is that the condemnation by the powerful organ of the world body came shortly after Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Maleeha Lodhi had met top brass in the UN including Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Lodhi has also met the UN Security Council president Anatolio Ndong Mba of Equatorial Guinea.
The UNSC resolution was adopted and the statement came even after Chinese side raised their objections.
The resolution was, in fact, adopted after detailed and prolonged discussions, sources said.
India has welcomed the resolution.
“A statement with many firsts takes more time than expected. In complex diplomatic situations, however, it is better to be late than never,” India’s permanent representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin tweeted on the UNSC statement.
MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar also took to the micro blogging site and wrote "Pakistan comes under international pressure to act against terrorists and terror groups operating from areas under its control & to take action against those responsible for Pulwama attack".
Pakistan has vehemently denied its role on the February 14 attack with no less than Prime Minister Imran Khan making a radio and television broadcast.
For its part, India has launched massive diplomatic offensive trying to corner Pakistan.
In fact, within hours of the strong statement from the UNSC, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said it is high time for the global community to stay united and take concrete actions against terror.
"Ab samay aa gaya hae ki vaishik samuday....batton se agey barkar, is samasya ke virodh mein ek jut hokar karwa-wahi karey (Now the time has come for the global community to go beyond mere talks and stay united and take concrete actions against terror menace)," Mr Modi said in a media briefing with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Seoul.
Sources also said at the UNSC, India has pushed for adoption of its stand and language in the resolution through 'partner countries' including on the naming of Jaish-e-Mohammad and "to bring perpetrators to justice".
France has played a key role in pushing the resolution, sources said and so did countries like the US - whose top leadership, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had urged Pakistan to act firmly against the terror groups.
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