UN urges Pakistan, India to show 'maximum restraint' on Pahalgam attack

The United Nations has asked neighbouring nuclear powers Pakistan and India to show “maximum restraint” to prevent the situation from “deteriorating any further.” The UN expressed concern after tensions heightened between both countries over a shooting incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir (IIOJK)

His remarks came after a deadly attack at the tourist hotspot Pahalgam in Indian-held Kashmir, where gunmen opened fire on visitors, leaving at least 26 dead and 17 injured. 

A spokesperson for the UN General Secretary Stephane Dujarric said, “General Secretary [Gutrress] is obviously following the situation very closely and with very great concern.” 

“We very much appeal to both the governments… to exercise maximum restraint, and to ensure that the situation and the developments we’ve seen do not deteriorate any further,” she maintained.

Read: 'A huge security lapse:' Indian govt admits intelligence failure in Pahalgam attack

When she was asked if the secretary personally contacted the leadership in both countries, she replied that the UN officials were avoiding taking action to prevent the situation from deteriorating. 

“We believe that any issues between Pakistan and India can be and should be resolved peacefully through meaningful mutual engagement,” Dujarric said. 

Moreover, commenting on the suspension of Indus Water Treaty she stated, “I think this would go under the rubric of us appealing for maximum restraint and not taking any actions that would deteriorate the situation further or increase tensions in a tense area.”

The reports stated that just hours after the UN statement, the LoC reported an exchange of fire between Pakistan and India. 

“Act of war:” Pakistan suspends visas, closes air space over New Delhi’s hostile measures

However, Syed Ashfaq Gilani, a government official. clarified that “There was no fire reported on the civilian population.”

Notably, at least 26 people were killed and 17 injured in India-occupied Kashmir when gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists on April 22. It was termed the region’s deadliest attack on civilians since 2000.

Following which, India unilaterally suspended Indus Water Treaty 1960, while Pakistan made the retaliatory decisions during a meeting of the National Security Committee meeting in Islamabad. 

The National Security Committee (NSC) unveiled a set of countermeasures in response to India's "provocative and irresponsible actions," which disregard international norms, UN resolutions, and global obligations.