UN Chief urges maximum restraint amid rising India-Pakistan tensions after Kashmir attack

Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the deadly attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on both nations to exercise “maximum restraint.” He also expressed deep concern over the current situation.

The UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, conveyed Guterres’ message to reporters late Thursday night, stating that the UN chief is “very concerned” about the developments between the two neighboring countries and is “closely monitoring” the situation.

Calling for calm, the Secretary-General emphasized that the recent retaliatory actions taken by both sides have significantly heightened tensions. “To prevent further deterioration, the Secretary-General urges both India and Pakistan to act with the utmost restraint,” said Dujarric.

Guterres reiterated the UN’s longstanding position that any issues between India and Pakistan should be resolved peacefully through “meaningful dialogue and mutual engagement.” He added, “We believe this is both possible and necessary.”

The appeal comes in the wake of Tuesday’s deadly shooting in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists, killing 26 people, including 25 Indian nationals. In response, India blamed Pakistan and took several retaliatory measures on Wednesday, including the cancellation of Pakistani visas and the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Pakistan responded on Thursday with its own set of countermeasures—canceling visas for Indian citizens, suspending bilateral trade, and closing its airspace to Indian aircraft. These reciprocal actions have further inflamed tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

SR