Regular session: The Situation in the India/Pakistan Subcontinent (Hostilities over Bangladesh) (1971)

Following the outbreak of hostilities between India and Pakistan in 1971 over the territory that would become Bangladesh, the SC considered the “Situation in the India/Pakistan Subcontinent”. The initial proposed response was a (US-drafted) ceasefire resolution (S/10446/Rev.1); however, it was vetoed by the USSR. Following this, the SC decided in December 1971 by a vote of 11 in favour and 4 abstentions to “refer the question” to the GA, observing (in a direct reference to the language of the UFP resolution) that the “lack of unanimity of its permanent members” had “prevented it from exercising its primary responsibility for the maintenance of peace and security” (S/RES/303).¹ Although explicit reference was made to the UFP resolution and the situation met the conditions for it, an emergency special session did not need to be organized given that the GA was in session at the time, and the matter could be taken up under the agenda item “UN Assistance to East Pakistan Refugees”.²

Within this regular session, the GA issued resolution 2793 (XXVI) to express its grave concern that “hostilities had broken out” between India and Pakistan, calling for an immediate ceasefire, urging the cooperation of Member States to address the refugee crisis, and calling upon the SC to take “appropriate action” in light of the resolution (A/RES/2793(XXVI)).