UN chief Antonio Guterres continually monitoring situation between India, Pakistan: Spokesperson

UN chief Antonio Guterres is "continually" monitoring situation between India and Pakistan and his office is available to both parties, his spokesperson said.

Spokesman for Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric was asked if UN chief h spoken with Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions between two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours. 

" Secretary General and members of his staff are in touch have been in touch with parties at various levels. We continually monitor situation and [are] available to parties," Spokesman for Secretary-General, Stphane Dujarric told reporters here Thursday. 

Earlier this week, Dujarric h said that Secretary General h t spoken with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan over situation between two nations but h expressed his concern to officials on both sides on need to de-escalate tensions. 

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"We're fully aware of situation. Secretary General has h calls with those two Hes of Government as far as I'm aware, but he's h contacts with both sides to express, I think, his concern and need to do as much as anyone can to de-escalate tensions," Dujarric h said at daily press briefing Tuesday.  

When asked if Secretary General is planning to get involved to try and mediate a de-escalation, Dujarric h said last week that "as always", Secretary General's good offices are always "available should both parties or all parties, depending on situation, agree to do that". 

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district in February 14.

India launched a counter-terror operation in Balakot on February 26. next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured its pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1.

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