Karachi – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged India and Pakistan to show “maximum restraint” and avoid any military escalation, warning that tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors had reached “a boiling point.”
The warning comes as New Delhi blames Islamabad for a deadly April 22 attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which killed 26 tourists. The fallout has triggered heated threats, diplomatic expulsions, and rising military activity on both sides.
“Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink,” Guterres said at a press briefing. “It is also essential to avoid a military confrontation that could easily spin out of control.”
The UN chief also condemned the Pahalgam attack and called for a credible and lawful investigation, while urging both sides to avoid actions that could worsen the crisis.
In response to the tensions, Pakistan’s military announced its second missile test in less than two weeks, signaling readiness amid fears of armed conflict. On the other hand, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has granted his forces “full operational freedom” to respond to the attack.
The UN Security Council was scheduled to hold a closed-door meeting later Monday at Pakistan’s request to address the situation. Diplomatic sources said international pressure is growing on both countries to de-escalate and engage in dialogue.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have flared multiple times over the disputed Kashmir region, but the current standoff is being described by international observers as one of the most dangerous in recent years due to the risk of direct military engagement between two nuclear powers.
