New York: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack, and he emphasized the need for justice and accountability.

Concerning the growing hostilities between India and Pakistan, he further cautioned that “confrontation could have catastrophic consequences.”

Stephane Dujarric, the Secretary-General’s spokesperson, said at a press conference on Tuesday that the UN Secretary-General had separate conversations with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The Secretary General reaffirmed his strong condemnation of the terrorist incident that occurred in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22 during his phone conversation. The Secretary General emphasized the need to use legal channels to seek justice and responsibility for these atrocities.

“The Secretary-General also conveyed his profound concern regarding the escalating tension between India and Pakistan, and he also emphasized the necessity of avoiding a confrontation that could have catastrophic outcomes,” Dujarric said. In order to assist with any de-escalation measures, the Secretary General offered his good offices.

Guterres emphasized that a conflict between the two countries is not something the world or the region can afford.

“The high degree of tension between the two nations continues to worry the Secretary General… In order to de-escalate, he wants to see all perspectives. A conflict between India and Pakistan would be disastrous for both nations as well as the whole globe, and the region and the world cannot afford it,” Dujarric said.

Notably, Jaishankar was contacted by a number of international leaders who denounced the Pahalgam incident in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, in which terrorists funded by Pakistan murdered 26 people—mostly tourists—and wounded several more.

Jaishankar said in a post on X, “UN SG Antonio Guterres called me. Thank you for his clear denunciation of the Pahalgam terrorist incident. agreed that accountability is important. India is committed to bringing the attackers, organizers, and supporters to justice. In his phone call with Guterres, Sharif begged for an impartial inquiry into the Pahalgam affair.

“Spoke with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres over the phone. I asked for an open and impartial inquiry into the Pahalgam tragedy, reiterated Pakistan’s rejection of terrorism in all its manifestations, and denied unfounded Indian charges. Pakistan is still dedicated to peace, but if its sovereignty is threatened, it will fight back with all of its might,” Sharif wrote on X on Tuesday.