UN chief concerned about Indian military actions in Pakistan, urges restraint

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was very concerned about Indian attacks in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, his spokesperson said on Tuesday while calling for maximum military restraint from both nuclear-armed Asian neighbors.

Why it's important

Guterres said earlier this week even before India's military actions that tensions between India and Pakistan were "at their highest in years" after an April 22 Islamist militant attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed and which the UN chief condemned as an "awful terror attack."

India attacked Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday Asia time and late Tuesday US time, while Pakistan said it had shot down some Indian fighter jets in the worst fighting in more than two decades between the countries.

Key quotes

"The Secretary-General is very concerned about the Indian military operations across the Line of Control and international border. He calls for maximum military restraint from both countries," the UN chief's spokesperson said on Tuesday.

"The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan."

Earlier comments

"Tensions between India and Pakistan are at their highest in years. I strongly condemn the awful terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22. It is essential - especially at this critical hour - that India and Pakistan avoid a military confrontation that could easily spin out of control," Guterres said on Monday.

Late last month, Guterres spoke separately with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif and India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and offered to support de-escalation efforts, his spokesperson said.

Context

Muslim-majority Kashmir, an Indian Union Territory, is claimed in full by Pakistan, with New Delhi and Islamabad controlling only part of it and having fought wars over it.