United Nations Chief Antonio Gutaras, while expressing deep concern over the situation between India and Pakistan, has said that he is willing to support any initiative to “reduce stress” and “negotiation” between the two countries that are acceptable to both.
The statement issued on Monday by the office of Gutaras spokesperson said that the general secretary “is very concerned about the situation between India and Pakistan. He has urged both governments to avoid every step of exercising maximum restraint and stress enhancing.
The statement said that Gutaras “again expressed strong confidence that the most challenging issues can also be resolved peacefully through meaningful and creative interactions. He is ready to support both sides acceptable to any such initiative that encourages reducing stress and re -starting the conversation. ”
Tensions between India and Pakistan have increased after the firing by terrorists near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. 26 people were killed in this attack, mostly tourists. This is the deadliest attack in the valley after the 2019 attack in Pulwama.
After the attack in Pahalgam, India suspended the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) and reduced diplomatic relations with Pakistan.
The Center had announced several steps on Wednesday, including expel to the Pakistani military advisor (Atashe), suspending the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and immediate closure of the attic border in view of the Pahalgam attack being connected to the border.
India has asked all Pakistanis entering the country through the Attari border to leave the country by May 1.
In response, Pakistan on Thursday decided to shut down its airspace for all Indian airlines and postponed trade with India.
Gutaras has said that he is “extremely concerned” on the situation between India and Pakistan and “very closely” keeping an eye on it. He appealed to the governments of both countries to exercise maximum restraint and ensure that the situation would not be worse.
The statement released on Monday said that the United Nations Military Supervisor Group (UNMOGIP) in India and Pakistan “is not an attendance in the region where the attack took place and is working under its constituency to strictly follow the 1971 ceasefire agreement and monitor the developments on the Line of Control.”
UNMOGIP was established in January 1949. After the 1971 war between India and Pakistan and then the same year, the same year, UNMOGIP was tasked to keep a close watch on the developments related to the strict adherence to this agreement and inform the General Secretary to the General Secretary.
India says that the usefulness of UNMOGIP has ended and it has become irrelevant after the determination of the Shimla Agreement and the Line of Control (LoC).
The United Nations Chief again expressed his solidarity with the families of the victims of the terrorist attack on 22 April and “underlined the importance of accountability and justice.”
The United Nations Security Council had “strongly condemned” of the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir last week and emphasized that those responsible for these murders should be held accountable and the organizers and sponsors of this “condemnable terrorist act” should be brought to justice.
