UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint following a deadly armed attack in Indian-Occupied Kashmir earlier this week, urging both nations to avoid further escalation.
“The Secretary-General is obviously following the situation very closely and with very great concern,” said his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, during a press briefing at the UN Headquarters in New York.
According to media reports, the attack near Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in Indian-Occupied Kashmir, claimed around 26 lives. The UN chief strongly condemned the violence and extended condolences to the victims and their families.
In the aftermath, tensions between the two countries have escalated, with India announcing a series of punitive measures against Pakistan — including the unilateral suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, the closure of cross-border links, diplomatic expulsions, and the expulsion of some Pakistani visa holders.
Pakistan, denying any involvement in the attack, responded by halting visa issuance under a bilateral exemption scheme, expelling Indian diplomats, and closing its airspace to Indian flights.
Dujarric confirmed that the UN chief has not directly contacted the leadership of either country. He emphasized the need for peaceful resolution through “meaningful mutual engagement” and cautioned against any actions, such as India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, that could further inflame tensions in the already volatile region.
