ISLAMABAD, Pakistan / NEW DELHI, India (Diya TV) — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged both India and Pakistan to take urgent steps to de-escalate rising tensions following a deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 people, most of them tourists. In separate phone calls on Tuesday with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Guterres condemned the April 22 attack and stressed the importance of justice, accountability, and regional stability.

According to U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres expressed “deep concern at the rising tensions between India and Pakistan” and warned of the “tragic consequences” a confrontation could bring. “The Secretary-General offered his good offices to support any de-escalation efforts,” Dujarric told reporters at the U.N. daily briefing.

The conversations come amid escalating rhetoric and alarming claims from Islamabad. Pakistan’s federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, alleged on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that India is planning imminent military action within the next 24–36 hours. “Pakistan has credible intelligence that India intends to carry out military action against Pakistan… on the pretext of baseless and concocted allegations of involvement in the Pahalgam incident,” Tarar claimed.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also took to X to share details of his call with Guterres. He stated that he reaffirmed Pakistan’s “condemnation of terrorism in all its forms,” while rejecting what he called “baseless Indian accusations” regarding Pakistan’s role in the Pahalgam attack. Sharif urged the U.N. to conduct a “transparent and neutral investigation” and called on the organization to help resolve the Kashmir dispute in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions. “Pakistan remains committed to peace, but will defend its sovereignty with full force if challenged,” he added.

India, meanwhile, maintains that the attack in Pahalgam was a brutal act of terrorism that must be met with accountability. In his social media post following the call with Guterres, Foreign Minister Jaishankar welcomed the U.N. chief’s condemnation of the attack. “Appreciate his unequivocal condemnation of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Agreed on the importance of accountability. India is resolved that the perpetrators, planners, and backers of this attack are brought to justice,” Jaishankar wrote.

While neither side confirmed the specific content of Guterres’ proposals for mediation, his use of the term “good offices” signals a willingness to assist diplomatically, should both parties agree to his involvement.

The Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest in the region in recent years, has sharply heightened tensions in South Asia, with both countries exchanging verbal accusations and increasing military readiness. India has consistently accused Pakistan of harboring and supporting terrorist networks operating across the border—allegations that Pakistan denies.

The U.N. chief’s outreach is seen as a crucial step to defuse a potential crisis between two nuclear-armed neighbors. Analysts have noted that while the U.N. cannot enforce actions on sovereign nations, its diplomatic engagement can help foster communication and reduce the risk of miscalculation.

As regional and global leaders watch developments closely, Guterres emphasized that justice must be pursued through “lawful means,” and reiterated his call for restraint from both governments.

With fears of escalation looming, the international community is urging both countries to prioritize diplomacy over conflict. Whether Guterres’ intervention will lead to tangible de-escalation remains to be seen, but for now, the world is watching South Asia with growing concern.