The UN chief asks India, Pakistan to exercise 'maximum restraint' and take steps to defuse tensions

UN chief Antonio Guterres has called on India and Pakistan to exercise "maximum restraint" and take "immediate steps to de-escalate tensions following Pulwama terror attack, reiterating that his good offices are available if asked by both sides.

alrey sour relations between India and Pakistan have worsened over past week as New Delhi blamed Islamab for Pulwama attack by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. Both countries have called back ir envoys for "consultations."

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Secretary General stresses 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, UN Secretary General's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Tuesday, February 19 at daily press briefing.

Dujarric was asked about a meeting Pakistan's Permanent Mission to UN has sought with Secretary General and also about Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi saying UN must step in to defuse tensions between two nations.

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

He said Pakistan's mission at UN requested for meeting with Secretary General.

"We've seen press reports of a letter having been delivered to UN. As far as we've ascertained, ne has been received as of this very minute," he ded.

In a separate issue, Dujjaric said that in response to questions on a recent incident involving UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan, kwn as UNMOGIP, observer group reported on February 16 that a UN vehicle in city of Jammu was surrounded by a group of protesters who placed a Pakistan flag in front of vehicle.

vehicle attempted to bypass flag but was unable to do so. Mission has informed both Indian and Pakistani authorities of this regrettable and unavoidable circumstances of incident. Mission also requested India to provide ditional escorts and will be conducting an investigation, he said.

India maintains that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after Simla Agreement and consequent establishment of Line of Control.

Last week, Guterres h "strongly" condemned terror attack against security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, perpetrated by Jaish-e-Mohammed, calling for those behind attack to be brought to justice.

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"We strongly condemn today's attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district and express our deepest condolences to families of those who lost ir lives and to Government and people of India," Dujarric h said at daily press briefing of last Thursday.

Responding to a question by PTI on terror attack, Dujarric said, "We of course wish a speedy recovery to those injured and call for those behind attack to be brought  to justice.