UN Secretary-General Warns Against Military Escalation Between India And Pakistan

In the face of rising tensions, UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the recent terrorist assault in Pahalgam and urged India and Pakistan to refrain from engaging in armed conflict.

Speaking about the tragedy, Guterres said, "I can relate to the intense emotions that followed the Pahalgam attack on April 22. I express my sympathies to the victims' families and firmly condemn the attack once more. 26 civilians were killed and numerous others were injured in the attack, which was carried out by terrorists with training and operations from Pakistan. The majority of the victims were tourists visiting Baisaran in Pahalgam, southern Kashmir.

Guterres reaffirmed the significance of justice and stressed that the attackers must be held responsible using "credible, lawful" methods.

The UN head also voiced alarm over the two nuclear-armed neighbours' deteriorating relationship. As tensions between India and Pakistan are at their greatest level in recent memory, he said, "It pains me to see India-Pakistan relations reaching a boiling point."

Guterres praised India and Pakistan's significant contributions to the UN, particularly in the area of peacekeeping. "The governments and people of both countries have made significant contributions to the work of the United Nations, not least UN peacekeeping, and for that I am extremely grateful and respectful," he said.

As India has responded to the attack with a number of robust actions, the comments coincide with an increase in global attention to the South Asian region. These consist of blocking the Attari border, suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, and prohibiting planes registered in Pakistan from using its airspace.

In his message, the UN Secretary-General aims to defuse the rapidly worsening situation while restating the organization's denunciation of terrorism and its commitment to achieving peace through legal means.