UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and extended his condolences to the families of the victims while expressing his deep concern over rising tensions between India and Pakistan and urged both nations to avoid escalation.
Weeks after the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir&rsquo;s Pahalgam, the United Nations secretary general said, &ldquo;I understand the raw feelings following the awful terror attack in Pahalgam on 22 April. I once again strongly condemn that attack and extend my condolences to the families of the victims.&rdquo;&nbsp; Highlighting that war is not the answer, he said that a military solution is no solution and added that his office was available to assist both countries &ldquo;in the service of peace.&rdquo; Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amid-looming-war-threat-jammu-and-kashmir-school-trains-students-on-survival-evacuation-9037928" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amid looming war threat, Jammu and Kashmir schools train students on survival, evacuation</a>
&ldquo;It is also essential&mdash;especially at this critical hour&mdash;to avoid a military confrontation that could easily spin out of control,&rdquo; he said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-mabeo5ll-4enfy4zq-ky2tr7j9">
VIDEO | Pahalgam terror attack: United Nations General Secretary Ant&oacute;nio Guterres (<a href="https://twitter.com/antonioguterres?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@antonioguterres</a>) says, "Tensions between India and Pakistan are at the highest in years. I deeply respect and I am profoundly grateful to the government and people of both countries and their&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/OFtWmBXMvn">pic.twitter.com/OFtWmBXMvn</a>
&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1919413919241637944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
&ldquo;Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink. Make no mistake: A military solution is no solution,&rdquo; the UN secretary-general added.
&ldquo;Tensions between India and Pakistan are at their highest in years. I deeply respect and am profoundly grateful to the government and people of both countries and their significant contribution to United Nations Peacekeeping, and so it pains me to see the relationship reach a boiling point... I once again strongly condemn that (Pahalgam) attack and extend condolences to the families of the victims. Targeting civilians is unacceptable, and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible, lawful means.&rdquo;
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/what-you-all-desire-will-happen-assures-defence-minister-rajnath-singh-on-pahalgam-retaliation-9032695" rel="noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;What you all desire will happen,&rsquo; assures defence minister Rajnath Singh on Pahalgam retaliation</a> &ldquo;The United Nations stands ready to support any initiative that promotes de-escalation, diplomacy, and a renewed commitment to peace,&rdquo; he said. The April 22 attack, which claimed 26 lives, most of them tourists, was carried out by Pakistan-backed terrorists in Pahalgam.
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-a-failed-state-gen-munirs-remarks-nonsensical-oppn-leader-asaduddin-owaisi-9032050" rel="noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;Pakistan a failed state, Gen Munir&rsquo;s remarks nonsensical&rsquo;: Oppn leader Asaduddin Owaisi</a>
The attack triggered one of the most serious spikes in India-Pakistan tensions in recent years. In response, India suspended the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty for the first time in history. Pakistan retaliated by announcing the suspension of the Shimla Agreement, further escalating the diplomatic standoff.

World | India News | Pakistan: Highlighting that war is not the answer, Guterres said that a military solution is no solution and added that his office was available to assist both countries “in the service of peace”.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and extended his condolences to the families of the victims while expressing his deep concern over rising tensions between India and Pakistan and urged both nations to avoid escalation. Weeks after the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, the United Nations secretary general said, “I understand the raw feelings following the awful terror attack in Pahalgam on 22 April. I once again strongly condemn that attack and extend my condolences to the families of the victims.” Highlighting that war is not the answer, he said that a military solution is no solution and added that his office was available to assist both countries “in the service of peace.” Also Read | Amid looming war threat, Jammu and Kashmir schools train students on survival, evacuation “It is also essential—especially at this critical hour—to avoid a military confrontation that could easily spin out of control,” he said. VIDEO | Pahalgam terror attack: United Nations General Secretary António Guterres (@antonioguterres) says, "Tensions between India and Pakistan are at the highest in years. I deeply respect and I am profoundly grateful to the government and people of both countries and their… pic.twitter.com/OFtWmBXMvn — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 5, 2025 “Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink. Make no mistake: A military solution is no solution,” the UN secretary-general added. “Tensions between India and Pakistan are at their highest in years. I deeply respect and am profoundly grateful to the government and people of both countries and their significant contribution to United Nations Peacekeeping, and so it pains me to see the relationship reach a boiling point... I once again strongly condemn that (Pahalgam) attack and extend condolences to the families of the victims. Targeting civilians is unacceptable, and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible, lawful means.” Also Read | ‘What you all desire will happen,’ assures defence minister Rajnath Singh on Pahalgam retaliation “The United Nations stands ready to support any initiative that promotes de-escalation, diplomacy, and a renewed commitment to peace,” he said. The April 22 attack, which claimed 26 lives, most of them tourists, was carried out by Pakistan-backed terrorists in Pahalgam. Also Read | ‘Pakistan a failed state, Gen Munir’s remarks nonsensical’: Oppn leader Asaduddin Owaisi The attack triggered one of the most serious spikes in India-Pakistan tensions in recent years. In response, India suspended the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty for the first time in history. Pakistan retaliated by announcing the suspension of the Shimla Agreement, further escalating the diplomatic standoff.

‘Time for maximum restraint’: UN chief condemns Pahalgam attack, offers help to ease India-Pakistan tensions

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is in India on a 3-day visit, he was greeted by the officials of the Indian state of Maharashtra on arrival. After that, he paid homage to the victims of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The Taj Hotel was one of the key targets of this attack in 2008. He also met a survivor of the attack too.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on 3-day visit to India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a virtual keynote address at the valedictory session along with the PM of Norway Erna Solberg and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

PM Modi's keynote address at the UN ECOSOC segment

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday (July 12) called on the international community to provide more aid to Mozambique, where two cyclones spurred by climate change killed hundreds and wrought widespread destruction earlier this year.

United Nations chief calls for more support for cyclone-hit Mozambique

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-nations-calls-for-impartial-inquiry-by-independent-body-into-death-of-egypts-mohamed-morsi-228430">United Nations </a>Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday launched an action plan to curb rising hate speech in the world arena and warned that the world is in danger of forgetting the impact of hate speech.

He blamed the leaders of democracies as well as dictatorships for fueling the spread of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-300000-flee-congo-violence-complicating-ebola-fight-united-nations-228316">hate speech around the world</a>.

"In both liberal democracies and authoritarian regimes, some political leaders are bringing the hate-fuelled ideas and language of these groups into the mainstream, normalizing them, coarsening the public discourse and weakening the social fabric," he said.

The UN chief said that while hate speech has been around for a long time, it is now amplified by social media.

"Around the world, we see a groundswell of xenophobia, racism and intolerance, violent misogyny, and also anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred," said Guterres.

Launching a Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech at the UN, he declared: "Hate speech may have gained a foothold. But it is now on notice, and we will never stop confronting it."&nbsp;

"Hateful and destructive views are enabled and amplified exponentially through digital technology, often targeting women, minorities, and the most vulnerable. Extremists gather online and radicalise new recruits," he said.&nbsp;

According to the Secretary-General, the new strategy would take aim at the root causes of hate speech — which includes "violence, marginalization, discrimination, poverty, exclusion, inequality, lack of basic education, and weak state institutions".

(With inputs from agencies)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday launched an action plan to curb rising hate speech in the world arena and warned that the world is in danger of forgetting the impact of hate speech.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday launched an action plan to curb rising hate speech in the world arena and warned that the world is in danger of forgetting the impact of hate speech. He blamed the leaders of democracies as well as dictatorships for fueling the spread of hate speech around the world. "In both liberal democracies and authoritarian regimes, some political leaders are bringing the hate-fuelled ideas and language of these groups into the mainstream, normalizing them, coarsening the public discourse and weakening the social fabric," he said. The UN chief said that while hate speech has been around for a long time, it is now amplified by social media. "Around the world, we see a groundswell of xenophobia, racism and intolerance, violent misogyny, and also anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred," said Guterres. Launching a Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech at the UN, he declared: "Hate speech may have gained a foothold. But it is now on notice, and we will never stop confronting it." "Hateful and destructive views are enabled and amplified exponentially through digital technology, often targeting women, minorities, and the most vulnerable. Extremists gather online and radicalise new recruits," he said. According to the Secretary-General, the new strategy would take aim at the root causes of hate speech — which includes "violence, marginalization, discrimination, poverty, exclusion, inequality, lack of basic education, and weak state institutions". (With inputs from agencies)

Eyeing global 'groundswell' of hate speech, UN launches action plan to combat

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed outrage over the series of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, with a top UN official in the country saying the attacks on journalists ahead of World Press Freedom Day is a "direct assault on the freedom of expression".

Twin suicide blasts, claimed by the ISIS, in the Afghan capital Kabul yesterday killed 25 people, including 10 journalists, in what Reporters Without Borders said was the most lethal single attack on the media since the fall of the Taliban.

In a third attack 11 children were killed and 16 people wounded, including foreign and Afghan security force members, when a suicide attacker exploded his bomb-laden car near a convoy in the southern province of Kandahar.

Top UN officials underscored the need to bring those behind the attacks to justice.

The attacks in Kabul and Kandahar caused numerous casualties among civilians, emergency responders, and school children, Guterres said in a statement attributable to his spokesperson.

"The deliberate targeting of journalists in the attack highlights once again the risks media professionals face in carrying out their essential work. Those responsible for such crimes must be swiftly brought to justice," the UN chief said.

The Secretary-General extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

Strongly condemning the terrorist attacks, senior United Nations officials also stressed the need to bring those behind the attacks to justice.

"These attacks caused untold human suffering to Afghan families UNAMA condemns them in the strongest possible terms," the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Tadamichi Yamamoto said in a separate news release.

He said is "outraged" by the attack which appears to have deliberately targeted journalists, coming just ahead of World Press Freedom Day. This, he said, is a "direct assault on the freedom of expression."

"There is no justification whatsoever for such attacks. Those who have organised and enabled these attacks must be brought to justice and held to account," the UN envoy said.&nbsp

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed outrage over the series of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, with a top UN official in the country saying the attacks on journalists ahead of World Press Freedom Day is a 'direct assault on the freedom of expression'

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed outrage over the series of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, with a top UN official in the country saying the attacks on journalists ahead of World Press Freedom Day is a "direct assault on the freedom of expression". Twin suicide blasts, claimed by the ISIS, in the Afghan capital Kabul yesterday killed 25 people, including 10 journalists, in what Reporters Without Borders said was the most lethal single attack on the media since the fall of the Taliban. In a third attack 11 children were killed and 16 people wounded, including foreign and Afghan security force members, when a suicide attacker exploded his bomb-laden car near a convoy in the southern province of Kandahar. Top UN officials underscored the need to bring those behind the attacks to justice. The attacks in Kabul and Kandahar caused numerous casualties among civilians, emergency responders, and school children, Guterres said in a statement attributable to his spokesperson. "The deliberate targeting of journalists in the attack highlights once again the risks media professionals face in carrying out their essential work. Those responsible for such crimes must be swiftly brought to justice," the UN chief said. The Secretary-General extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. Strongly condemning the terrorist attacks, senior United Nations officials also stressed the need to bring those behind the attacks to justice. "These attacks caused untold human suffering to Afghan families UNAMA condemns them in the strongest possible terms," the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Tadamichi Yamamoto said in a separate news release. He said is "outraged" by the attack which appears to have deliberately targeted journalists, coming just ahead of World Press Freedom Day. This, he said, is a "direct assault on the freedom of expression." "There is no justification whatsoever for such attacks. Those who have organised and enabled these attacks must be brought to justice and held to account," the UN envoy said.

UN chief 'outraged' by terror attacks in Afghanistan