UNSC condemns Karachi attack as well as Pakistan
WASHINGTON: A UN Security Council statement condemning the recent terror attack in Karachi was twice stalled by the US and Germany, delaying its issuance to give a “message” to Pakistan over Islamabad blaming New Delhi for the incident and also PM Imran Khan calling Osama bin Laden a “martyr”, according to diplomats. The council condemned the June 29 attack “in the strongest terms”. The statement was issued more than 24 hours after the first draft, written by China, was circulated to council members.
WASHINGTON: A UN Security Council statement condemning the recent terror attack in Karachi was twice stalled by the US and Germany, delaying its issuance to give a “message” to Pakistan over Islamabad blaming New Delhi for the incident and also PM Imran Khan calling Osama bin Laden a “martyr”, according to diplomats.
The council on Wednesday condemned the June 29 attack “in the strongest terms”. The statement was issued more than 24 hours after the first draft, written by China, was circulated to council members. It was expected to be timed for release with Pakistan’s efforts to blame the attack on India, without explicitly saying so in the text.
China circulated the draft around the time of the Pakistan PM’s statement accusing India of being behind the attack.
United Nations diplomats said the purpose of the Chinese draft statement could have been to provide Islamabad an opportunity to portray itself as a victim of terrorism and not the leading state-sponsor of it, and allow it the opportunity to slur India.
But it did not quite work out that way. Germany, which holds the rotational presidency of the UNSC for July, put up the first obstacle when the draft was put under a “silence procedure”, under which if no member state raises any objections within a specified time period, it is considered adopted.
Germany sought an extension to the silence procedure period saying it needed to “consult the capital”. The deadline was extented until 10am on Wednesday (7.30 pmIST).
Germany simply passed on the baton of disapproval to the US, which also sought an extension till 1pm (10.30pm IST).
United Nations diplomats observed that the delays in adoption of the text could be a subtle way for the Americans to convey their displeasure with the Pakistani prime minister for his remarks on Laden.