UNSC To Hold Closed Consultations On Indo-Pak Situation Today

The UN Secretary General added: “It is also essential -- especially at this critical hour -- to avoid a military confrontation that could easily spin out of control. Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink. That has been my message in my ongoing outreach with both countries. Make no mistake: A military solution is no solution. And I offer my good offices to both governments in the service of peace.”

Meanwhile, as world leaders engage with India and Pakistan in a bid to defuse military tensions along the border and the Line of Control, generated in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian side has launched a financial strike on Pakistan by seeking to cut its finances from international bodies. Sources said India has urged the Asian Development Bank (ADB) “go slow” on the financial support to Pakistan as part of New Delhi’s broader push to disrupt terror financing and international economic support to Pakistan.

India is trying to restrict the flow of foreign funds to Islamabad and has also urged the World Bank to put Pakistan back in the FATF “grey list” for failing to do enough to contain terrorism and money laundering.

At home, India closed gates of the Salal and Baglihar Dams, for the first time since 1960, to stop water flow towards Pakistan, depriving it of water for agriculture, power generation etc. Official data from Pakistan’s Indus River System Authority (IRSA) reveals a sharp fall in the water flow of the Chenab at Marala Headworks in Pakistan following India’s closure of upstream dams. On April 20, before the terror attack, the upstream discharge was recorded at 23,980 cubic seconds and downstream discharge at 17,480 cubic seconds by Pakistan. By April 25, these figures had dropped to 16,087 cs and 8,087 cs indicating 33 per cent reduction in upstream and 54 per cent in downstream. The IRSA, which held a meeting on Monday in Islamabad, noted a sudden decrease in Chenab flow at Marala due to short supply would result in shortages in the early kharif season. For the time being, Pakistan plans to use reservoirs “pragmatically” to ensure supplies to its provinces.

Amid tensions, Pakistan’s air space is increasingly getting isolated with a majority of international airlines avoiding overflights, creating a further hole in Pakistan’s pocket.

Ratings agency Moody's issued a warning for Pakistan, saying that war escalation could severely damage its economy, derail progress, threaten external funding, and strain foreign exchange reserves. In contrast, India's economy is expected to remain resilient, though heightened defence spending could have notable economic impacts.

The Pakistan Army has actively stepped up its truce violations, particularly during nights, to keep Indian troops engaged even as it pushes more terrorists to India from its launch pads in PoK. There have been 37 ceasefire violations in the last 12 days.

“During the night of May 4 and 5, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms fire across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani and Akhnoor in J&K. The Indian Army responded promptly and proportionately,” a defence spokesperson said in Jammu.

The Pakistani Army has also started nesting its guns among its civilian populations at the LoC. Military experts said the Pakistan Army’s usual practice is to occupy civil areas along the LoC and mount guns near highly populated areas so when there is any retaliation from the Indian side, they can claim civilian casualties.