India-Pakistan Ceasefire: Antonio Guterres says UN ready to support efforts to promote peace

The UN chief’s statement, released on Saturday, came shortly after news broke of a decision by the two countries to de-escalate a situation that has caused widespread alarm in recent days.

Tensions had been steadily rising, after a group of gunmen fired on tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April, killing at least 26 and injuring scores more.

In the past week, fears grew of an outright military confrontation, and the UN expressed deep concern over deteriorating relations between the two South Asian neighbours, with Guterres telling journalists that tensions were higher than they had been in years, and reiterating calls for maximum restraint.

'Positive Step'

The Secretary-General welcomed the ceasefire agreement as a positive step toward ending current hostilities and easing tensions, and said that he hopes the agreement will “contribute to lasting peace and foster an environment conducive to addressing broader, longstanding issues between the two countries.”

Ceasefire-Violation-Tension

India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire effective 5 pm on Saturday after four days of intense military exchanges following Operation Sindoor, which was undertaken to strike terror bases in Pakistan and PoK in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack.

However, hours after the deal, Pakistan, later in the night, violated the agreement along the LoC at multiple locations.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said late Saturday night that within hours of the ceasefire declaration, Pakistan violated the agreement, prompting India to demand that Islamabad act responsibly and rein in the breaches.

“In the last few hours, there have been repeated violations of the understanding arrived at earlier this evening between the directors general of military operations of India and Pakistan,” Misri said.

No late-night drone activity was seen in Srinagar.