The United Nations has welcomed Pakistan’s offer to release Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured when his MiG-21 was shot down in Pakistan-Adminstered-Kashmir.
UN Chief’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters: “The report of the release of the Indian pilot by the Pakistani authorities would be very much a welcome step. We would encourage both parties to do whatever they can to de-escalate the situation.”
Guterres has been in contact “with both sides at various levels”, Dujarric said, while declining to identify the contacts.
On Thursday, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan while addressing a joint parliament session said that as a peace gesture, the captured Indian pilot will be released.
Dujarric added that de-escalating tensions “is the message that has been passed on by the United Nations and, I think, by the international community as a whole”.
General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa joined in the international call for dialogue between India and Pakistan.
She “asks for both sides right now to seek dialogue to avoid an escalation of tensions, but also to avoid further tragic loss of life”, her Spokesperson Monica Billela Grayley said.
Espinosa, who has visited the region is “following with great concern the latest reports on the situation between India and Pakistan”, Grayely said.
PM Khan also said that the reason of escalation between India and Pakistan is Kashmir dispute.
“All of this is because of Kashmir,” PM Khan said while addressing a joint session of parliament.
“I want to ask the Indian public about all that has happened over the past 4 years. There is an indigenous movement in Kashmir. At one point, Kashmiri leaders had not wanted separation, but because of Indian brutality, today all they demand is independence.”
“Shouldn’t they ask why a 19-year-old agreed to become a human bomb?” he said while referring to the Pulwama attack in which 49 CRPF personnel were killed.
