UN Chief Urges Restraint as Indo-Pak Tensions Reach Boiling Point
Dubela, Prinona Ghosh: As tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan continue to rise, United Nation Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has made a strong appeal for both countries to show “maximum restraint” and avoid actions that could trigger a full-scale military conflict as dispute between the South Asian neighbors soared.
Guterres told the reporters in New York that the relations between the two countries have reached “a boiling point” and he also added that they were at their “highest in years”.
Tension have raised from a brutal attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, a tourist area in, Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 people were killed. India has accused Pakistan for supporting the attackers, though no group has taken responsibility, adding a series of heated threats and diplomatic tit-for-tat measures. Pakistan strongly denied any involvement and call for an independent probe. The Pakistani military on Monday, conducted its second missile test since the conflict escalated, further raising alarm.
Both the countries emerging from the violent partition of British India in 1947 have been through several wars and continue to share a deeply hostile relationship. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted the military “full operational freedom,” prompting concerns of retaliation. Both Delhi and Islamabad are facing global pressure for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink.
The UN Security Council was scheduled to hold a closed-door meeting later on Monday, following Pakistan’s request to address the ongoing crisis.
