UN urges calm as India-Pakistan tensions flare over Kashmir attack

UN calls for ‘maximum restraint’ after killing of Indian tourists in Kashmir sparks tit-for-tat measures, treaty suspension, and border closures between two nuclear neighbors

ISLAMABAD / NEW DELHI  (MNTV)  – The UN has called on India and Pakistan to show “maximum restraint” as tensions flared dramatically following a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists.

The fallout has triggered tit-for-tat diplomatic measures, suspension of a decades-old water-sharing treaty, and military escalation between the two nuclear-armed rivals.

The gun attack took place in Pahalgam, a scenic tourist destination in Kashmir, when unidentified assailants opened fire on a group of mostly Indian men visiting the region. Seventeen others were injured.

India quickly blamed Pakistan-based groups, despite offering no evidence, sparking a sharp diplomatic and military backlash.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres voiced “great concern” over the escalating situation and appealed for dialogue. His spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, urged both nations to “avoid actions that could further deteriorate an already tense region” and resolve issues through mutual engagement.

India’s unilateral suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty — a World Bank-brokered pact regulating water sharing from six rivers — drew severe criticism from Pakistan. The treaty has survived multiple wars and decades of hostilities between the two nations.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called the move an “act of war” and warned of a “strong and proportional response.” He reminded New Delhi that “Pakistan is a nuclear and missile power,” asserting that its sovereignty and survival would be defended at all costs.

India’s former Central Water Commission chief Kushvinder Vohra confirmed the abeyance removes India’s obligation to share flood and water flow data with Pakistan — a move that could have serious implications during monsoon season.

In rapid succession, both countries suspended visas for each other’s citizens, expelled military attachés, and closed their respective airspaces to commercial flights. Pakistan sealed the Wagah border and halted all bilateral trade.

The National Security Committee (NSC) in Islamabad, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by top civilian and military leadership, called India’s actions “unilateral, unjust, politically motivated, and devoid of legal merit.”

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said Pakistan would consider putting all bilateral agreements — including the Simla Agreement — in abeyance if India continued its “manifested behavior of fomenting terrorism inside Pakistan, transnational killings, and violations of international law and UN resolutions on Kashmir.”

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi briefed President Asif Ali Zardari on the NSC’s decisions. The president called the response “timely and visionary,” and said it “echoed the aspirations of the Pakistani nation.” He declared, “Pakistan’s defense is impregnable, and any misadventure would be met with full force.”

Senate, diplomats back tough stance

Pakistan’s Senate unanimously adopted a resolution rejecting India’s accusations and condemned the Pahalgam attack while distancing Islamabad from any involvement. Lawmakers from across the political spectrum, including the opposition PTI party, accused New Delhi of using the tragedy to vilify Pakistan.

Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch briefed ambassadors and foreign diplomats based in Islamabad. In her remarks, she said India was “weaponizing terrorism for political purposes,” which she warned would destabilize regional peace.

Meanwhile, shelling was reported along the Line of Control (LoC) late Thursday night, although no civilian casualties were confirmed. A local official in Azad Jammu and Kashmir confirmed that both sides exchanged fire, but said it did not impact civilian populations.

The United States said it was “closely monitoring the rapidly evolving situation” but maintained its longstanding position of neutrality on Kashmir’s legal status.

“The State Department is observing developments with concern but has no comment on the Indus Treaty suspension or India’s domestic decisions,” spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in Washington.

While no country has yet directly intervened, analysts fear the breakdown of the Indus Waters Treaty — considered a cornerstone of India-Pakistan diplomacy — could mark a turning point in their already fraught relationship.

Observers warn that without third-party mediation or immediate de-escalation, the region could be heading toward another prolonged standoff — or worse.

As calls for calm grow louder, the world watches anxiously. The question now is whether diplomacy can prevail before the next shot is fired.