Pakistan urges UN to counsel India as Kashmir tensions escalate
3 Min Read
In the days following the attack, exchanges of gunfire have erupted across the heavily fortified Line of Control (LoC).
-
An Indian paramilitary soldier guards outside a garden in Srinagar after it was closed by authorities as a precautionary safety measure following last week's deadly attack on tourists near the resort town of Pahalgam, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called on United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to intervene and counsel India to act with restraint amid rising tensions following a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
"While underscoring that Pakistan shall defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity with full force in case of any misadventure by India, the Prime Minister encouraged the UN Secretary-General to counsel India to act responsibly and exercise restraint," Sharif's office said in a statement issued Tuesday. Pakistan has firmly rejected India's accusations of involvement in the attack.
The diplomatic outreach comes as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted his military "complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing of our response to the terror attack," a senior Indian government source told AFP. Modi made the announcement during a closed-door security meeting with army and intelligence chiefs, signaling New Delhi's readiness for potential military action.
Kashmir tensions
The attack, which took place in Pahalgam on April 22 killed 26 civilians, mainly tourists, and was claimed by the militant group The Resistance Front. It is considered one of the deadliest incidents targeting civilians in the contested region in recent years.
In the days following the attack, exchanges of gunfire have erupted across the heavily fortified Line of Control (LoC). The Indian army reported that the "Pakistan Army [resorted] to unprovoked small arms firing across the Line of Control," noting that Indian troops "responded in a measured and effective manner to the provocation." No casualties have been reported so far.
Pakistan's military has not confirmed the skirmishes but did claim it shot down an Indian drone violating Pakistani airspace, without specifying when the incident occurred. India has not commented on the drone allegation.
Read more: Pakistan shoots down quadcopter over LoC as tensions rise
The UN chief, concerned by the rapidly escalating situation, has reportedly engaged separately with both Indian and Pakistani officials to stress the importance of de-escalation. According to UN sources, Guterres reiterated the UN's readiness to assist in calming tensions if requested by both sides.
The situation remains volatile, with fears growing that the already strained relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors could deteriorate further if retaliatory action is taken. International observers and regional powers are closely monitoring developments, urging both countries to prioritize dialogue over confrontation.
