UN Security Council condemns terrorist attacks in Pakistan News
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UN Security Council condemns terrorist attacks in Pakistan

The UN Security Council on Tuesday condemned terrorist attacks which took place in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on January 31. The attacks killed 48 people, 31 of whom were civilians.

In a press release issued by Council President James Kariuki of the United Kingdom, the Council described the attacks as “heinous and cowardly.” It expressed sympathy for the injured and families of the victims, stating that terrorism is “one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.” It called for the “perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors” of the attacks to be held accountable, to which end it asked states to cooperate with the Pakistani government.

The attacks were apparently carried out by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist organization operating largely in the Baloch ethnic regions of Pakistan. The attack killed 18 civilians and 15 security personnel, as the BLA targeted a prison, government office, and police and paramilitary targets. Multiple targets were hit simultaneously across the region. The BLA have previously been deemed responsible for a “long-running insurgency in Pakistan,” and are a designated terrorist organization in the US.

The attack has led to Pakistani government raids on suspected militant strongholds in which killed over 175 presumed insurgents were killed, the highest death toll in decades. Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif ruled out talks with the BLA, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the raids. He further accused India of backing the attacks. 

The Security Council said that stated that Pakistan must combat terrorism “by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.” Chapter VII of the charter stipulates that states must cooperate with Security Council initiatives to “maintain and restore international peace and security.”

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