February 20, 2019:
On Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on India and Pakistan to take "immediate steps" to de-escalate tensions between the two nations following the Pulwama terror attack.
He reiterated that his good offices are available if both sides ask.
The already sour relations between India and Pakistan have worsened over the past week as New Delhi accused Islamabad of the Pulwama attack by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed in which at least 44 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 saying the UN must step in to defuse tensions between the nations.
"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.
He said Pakistan's mission at the UN requested for the meeting with the Secretary-General.
In a letter addressed to Antonio Guterres, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had sought the UN's urgent intervention to "defuse tensions" with India in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack.
Qureshi in his letter alleged that the security situation in his country has deteriorated resulting from the "threat of use of force against Pakistan by India".
He alleged that for domestic political reasons, India deliberately ratcheted up its hostile rhetoric against Pakistan and created a tense environment.
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