ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI – As tensions flare between India and Pakistan following a tragic attack on tourists in Kashmir, the United Nations Security Council has stepped in with a heartfelt plea: talk, don’t fight.
In a closed-door meeting held in New York on Monday, council members were briefed on the growing hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry revealed that intelligence reports suggest India may be preparing for military action—an alarming prospect for a region already on edge.
“They called for dialogue and diplomacy to defuse tensions and avoid military confrontation … and to peacefully resolve issues,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that echoed a deep desire for calm.
India, which hasn’t responded publicly to the meeting, has been accused by Pakistan of drawing the region closer to conflict. At the heart of the crisis is a deadly April 22 attack in Kashmir that killed 26 Hindu tourists. India blames Pakistani nationals for the attack, but Islamabad strongly denies involvement. Still, both countries are ramping up defenses—Pakistan has tested missiles twice in just three days, and India is launching civil defence drills across several states.
The world is watching anxiously.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the seriousness of the moment. “Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink,” he said, urging both sides to remember what’s at stake—not just pride or politics, but millions of lives.
The diplomatic fallout has been swift: trade suspended, airspace closed, embassy staff reduced. Meanwhile, economic warnings are sounding. Moody’s has flagged the risks of this standoff, particularly for Pakistan’s fragile economy, which is still healing after last year’s debt crisis. India, too, may feel the strain if defense spending surges.
The core issue remains unchanged: the long-disputed region of Kashmir. The world has urged both countries to look beyond the battlefield and choose the path of peace. The next step—dialogue—is now in their hands.
