UN expresses 'great concern' over India-Pakistan escalation, urges restraint

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. (File photo)

The United Nations on Friday expressed great concern over the escalating situation between India and Pakistan following the dastardly terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam and urged both sides to exercise "maximum restraint".

Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is closely following the situation but has not had any direct contact with either side.

"We were very clear in our condemnation of the terror attack that occurred in Jammu and Kashmir, on the 22nd, two days ago, which killed large number of civilians. But we very much appeal to both the governments of Pakistan and the government of India, to exercise maximum restraint and to ensure that the situation and the developments we hae seen do not deteriorate any further," he said.

The United Nations added that any issues between India and Pakistan "can be and should be resolved peacefully, through meaningful and mutual engagement."

Ties between India and Pakistan have nosedived in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 people dead.

The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the heinous attack.

Following the attack, India took a series of diplomatic actions against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, revocation of visas and closure of airspace. It also shut down the Attari border in Amristar. In a tit-for-tat move, Pakistan retaliated to India's actions and also held the Simla Agreement in abeyance.