Asger Risom
Tensions Soar After India Launches Missile Strikes in Response to Deadly Attack
The United Nations has issued a stark warning following India’s overnight missile strikes on targets in Pakistan, urging both nuclear-armed nations to exercise maximum restraint. The strikes, part of what India has dubbed Operation Sindoor, came days after a deadly terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 civilians dead — an act New Delhi blames on Islamabad.
India Targets “Terror Infrastructure,” Pakistan Responds
According to the Indian military, nine locations described as “terrorist facilities” in Pakistan and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir were struck. No Pakistani military installations were targeted, India claims, emphasizing what it called “considerable restraint” in both targeting and execution.
Pakistan, however, has called the attacks an “act of war” and confirmed it had responded with artillery fire, reportedly downing five Indian aircraft. A provisional toll cited by Reuters indicates at least three fatalities and twelve injured.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, through spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, called on both sides to avoid escalation, noting that tensions have reached “their highest level in years.” As reported by HotNews, Guterres stressed that “now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink.”
Fears of Escalation Between Two Nuclear States
Guterres condemned the April 22 terrorist attack but warned that military retaliation risked spiraling into a broader crisis. “It is crucial to avoid a confrontation that could easily become uncontrollable,” he said, reiterating calls for those responsible to be brought to justice.
While Pakistan denies involvement in the attack — which has not been claimed by any group — India insists the camps struck were linked to cross-border militancy.
With both countries possessing nuclear arsenals and a history of conflict over the Kashmir region, the UN’s intervention underscores the severity of the current standoff and the global stakes involved.