'World cannot afford' India-Pakistan confrontation: UN

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern following India’s military strikes across the Line of Control and international border targeting nine sites inside Pakistani territory. The development has prompted a call from the UN for both India and Pakistan to exercise maximum military restraint.

“The Secretary-General is very concerned about the Indian military operations across the Line of Control and international border. He calls for maximum military restraint from both countries. The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” said Stephane Dujarric, the UN chief’s spokesperson, during a press briefing on Tuesday.

India announced earlier in the day that its armed forces had conducted strikes on nine locations within Pakistan.

Indian armed forces launched strikes late Tuesday on terror-linked sites in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Punjab province, days after gunmen killed 26 people—mostly Hindu tourists—in Indian-administered Kashmir. Pakistan confirmed the strikes, reporting three civilian deaths, including a child, and said it would respond.

New Delhi said the operation targeted infrastructure linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based group designated as a terrorist organisation by the United Nations.