United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday
called on India and Pakistan to take steps to defuse
tensions in the wake an attack in Kashmir late last week
that left dozens of Indian security forces dead.
“The Secretary-General has been following with great concern the
situation in South Asia,” UN Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said in
a statement on the 14 February terrorist attack that took place
in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to media reports, tensions have been rising between
India and Pakistan following the attack, which took place in a
disputed territory that separates the two countries and resulted
in the deaths of 40 Indian security personnel and the attacker.
Mr Guterres reiterated his strong condemnation of the attack and
stressed that it is essential that there be accountability under
international law and the perpetrators of terrorist acts be
brought swiftly to justice.
At the same time, the Secretary-General urgently appealed to the
Governments of both India and Pakistan to exercise maximum
restraint to ensure the situation does not further deteriorate.
“It is the belief of the Secretary-General that all difficult
challenges can be resolved peacefully and satisfactorily through
meaningful mutual engagement,” said the Spokesman.
The UN has long maintained an institutional presence in the
contested area between India and Pakistan. According to the
Security Council mandate given in resolution 307 of 1971, the UN
Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) observes and
reports on ceasefire violations along and across the Line of
Control and the working boundary between the South Asian
neighbours in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as reports developments
that could lead to ceasefire violations.
