UN urges de‑escalation as India-Pakistan tensions rise
The UN warns against escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following an Indian attack on its neighbour's territory. The UN Secretary-General's spokesperson emphasises that the world cannot afford such a conflict.
India's attack on Pakistan.
The spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern about the situation at the India-Pakistan border. In a conversation with Reuters, he emphasised that the world cannot afford a military confrontation between these two countries. He called on both sides to exercise maximum restraint in their military actions.
On Wednesday morning (GMT), India announced the start of a military operation against Pakistan. The targets of the attacks were terrorist infrastructure located both in Pakistan and in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. These actions were met with a sharp response from Pakistan.
The Pakistani defence ministry reported that the armed forces shot down two Indian aircraft and one drone. Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, in his post on X, emphasised that Pakistan has the full right to respond to India's military action and that such a response is already underway.
In the face of rising tensions, the UN is calling for calm and dialogue between India and Pakistan. The organisation emphasises that escalating the conflict could have serious consequences for the entire region. In light of these events, the international community is anxiously observing the situation's development.
The history of the conflict between India and Pakistan
The conflict between India and Pakistan has its roots in the partition of British India in 1947. Kashmir, the subject of the dispute, was divided into parts administered by India and Pakistan. Since then, this region has become one of the most militarised areas in the world, being the theatre of three wars and numerous clashes.
Recent events, such as the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, in which 26 people died, have once again heightened tensions between these two countries. India accused Pakistan of supporting terrorist groups, which Islamabad firmly denies. In response, India closed its airspace to Pakistani aircraft and suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, which could lead to further escalation.
