United Nations, April 25, 2025: The United Nations has called on India and Pakistan to exercise “maximum restraint” amid rapidly escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors following a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The appeal comes in the aftermath of a brutal assault near the scenic town of Pahalgam on Tuesday, where gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists, killing 26 people in what India swiftly labeled a “terror attack” with alleged cross-border links. New Delhi blamed Pakistan for supporting the perpetrators—an accusation Islamabad has strongly denied.
A previously unknown militant group calling itself the Kashmir Resistance claimed responsibility for the attack. Pakistan, distancing itself from the incident, condemned the violence and rejected India’s claims as “baseless and politically motivated.”
In a statement issued Friday, a UN spokesperson said, “We urge both Pakistan and India to exercise maximum restraint and to ensure that the situation does not deteriorate further.”
The UN emphasized that all disputes between the two countries must be addressed peacefully through “meaningful, mutual engagement.”
In response to the attack, India initiated a series of retaliatory diplomatic measures, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty—a landmark agreement that had endured through two wars—closing the Attari-Wagah border crossing, reducing diplomatic personnel, and cancelling all visas issued to Pakistani nationals effective Sunday.
Pakistan responded on Thursday by cancelling visas issued to Indian citizens, closing its airspace to Indian-owned and Indian-operated airlines, and halting all trade with India, including via third countries. Islamabad further warned that any attempt by India to block or divert river waters would be seen as an “act of war”, promising a response with the “full spectrum of national power.”
Tuesday’s attack marks the deadliest assault in the region in recent years and reignites long-standing hostilities over disputed Jammu and Kashmir, a flashpoint that has fueled decades of unrest and armed resistance.
The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with calls for de-escalation growing louder amid fears of renewed conflict between the two countries.
