UN chief 'paying attention' to Indo-Pak border tension: UN spokesperson
United Nations: Secretary General Antonio Guterres is "paying attention" to the tensions between India and Pakistan at the border but the UN has not received any reports of alleged recent ceasefire violations, his spokesperson said.
"The Secretary General is paying attention to this issue," UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters at the daily briefing today when asked about the escalating tensions between two nuclear armed South Asian neighbours.
"We checked with our colleagues at UNMOGIP (United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan). We have not received any alleged ceasefire violations reports from the Indian authorities related to the latest incident
that we saw on Tuesday," he said.
Dujarric said the UN continues to reiterate the need for the "parties to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue".
He also rejected claims that UNMOGIP is partial as it only speaks about developments on the Pakistani side as India does not allow it to operate on its side.
"UNMOGIP is impartial," Dujarric said. "We are fully aware of operational environment in which UNMOGIP is forced to work."
Tensions have escalated between the two nations after two Indian jawans were killed and mutilated in Kashmir in unprovoked firing by Pakistan this morning.
The Indian army has warned of "appropriate response" for the "despicable act."
Defence minister Arun Jaitley said in Delhi that the "sacrifice (of the two killed) will not go in vain" and the Indian armed forces will react "appropriately" to the "inhuman act" of the Pakistani troops.
"This is a reprehensible and an inhuman act. Such attacks do not take place during war, he said. The Indian army issued a statement saying that the bodies of an army soldier and a BSF head constable were mutilated.
The soldiers killed were Naib Subedar Paramjeet Singh of the 22 Sikh Infantry and head constable Prem Sagar of the 200th Battalion of BSF. BSF constable Rajinder Singh was injured but is out of danger.
