UNSC’s first Covid-19 resolution backs India’s stand

TIL Desk/World/UN/ The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously adopted its first COVID-19 resolution that demands ‘immediate cessation of hostilities’ and explicitly states that it ‘does not apply’ to terror groups, a vindication of India’s position that terrorists do not respect ceasefires and such initiatives must be circumscribed by countries facing cross-border terrorism.

The UNSC, the 15-member powerful organ of the global body, on Wednesday unanimously adopted the first COVID-19-related resolution that backed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ call for global ceasefires in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The resolution, drafted by France and Tunisia, ‘demands a general and immediate cessation of hostilities in all situations on its agenda and supports the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General and his Special Representatives and Special Envoys’.

Significantly, it ‘affirms that this general and immediate cessation of hostilities and this humanitarian pause do not apply to military operations against the Islamic State, Al Qaeda and Al Nusra Front (ANF), and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al Qaeda or ISIS, and other terrorist groups, which have been designated by the Security Council.