UN Chief Guterres condemns Pahalgam terror attack, urges India-Pakistan de-escalation
New Delhi: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam and called for immediate de-escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan.
In separate phone calls to India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Guterres expressed deep concern over the rising hostilities following the cross-border attack that claimed the lives of 26 people, including a Nepalese citizen.
According to an official UN statement, Guterres stressed the importance of pursuing justice and accountability through lawful means. He reiterated the need to avoid further confrontation and offered his good offices to help both nations de-escalate the situation.
The terror attack, attributed to Pakistan-sponsored operatives, targeted mostly tourists in the Pahalgam region, leading to widespread condemnation and a sharp diplomatic standoff.
In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level security meeting attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, the three service chiefs, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Sources present at the meeting stated that PM Modi affirmed India's unwavering resolve to combat terrorism and granted the armed forces complete operational freedom to determine the nature and timing of the response.
As part of its countermeasures, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, expelled Pakistani High Commission officials by declaring them Persona Non Grata, and revoked visas issued under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES), ordering Pakistani nationals to leave within 48 hours.
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