UN chief calls India-Pak to take ‘immediate steps’ on Pulwama attack to de-escalate tensions

Days after the deadly terrorist Pulwama attack, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on India and Pakistan on Tuesday to take ‘immediate steps’ to reduce tensions between the two nations following the recent terror attack. He also said that his good offices are available if both sides ask.

Notably, the relations between the two countries, India and Pakistan were already sour and now have worsened over the past week as New Delhi blamed Islamabad for the Pulwama attack by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed. In the Pulwama terror attack over 40 CRPF personnel were killed. Both countries have called back their envoys for "consultations."

"The Secretary-General stresses the importance for both sides to exercise maximum restraint and take immediate steps to de-escalation, and his good offices are always available should both sides ask," the UN chief's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters Tuesday at the daily press briefing.

Dujarric was asked about a meeting Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the UN has sought with the Secretary-General and about Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the UN must step in to defuse tensions between the nations, reported PTI.

"Looking at the situation in general between India and Pakistan, we are deeply concerned at the increasing tensions between the two countries in the wake of the attack on Indian security personnel on February 14 in Pulwama," Dujrraic said.

Dujarric said Pakistan's mission at the UN requested for the meeting with the Secretary-General.

Also read: Pulwama Attack: 'Horrible', says US President Trump on terrorist attack by Jaish