UN chief urges Pakistan, India to resolve border violence through talks

E-Paper | May 07, 2026

UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern on Thursday about a recent escalation of violence between Pakistan and India, deploring the deaths and displacement of civilians in the worst fighting between the nuclear-armed rivals in over a decade.

At least 17 civilians have been killed since heavy shelling by both sides' security forces started more than a week ago along a 200-km (125-mile) stretch of border in the disputed, mostly Muslim region of Kashmir.

“The secretary-general is concerned about the recent escalation of violence along the line of control between India and Pakistan. He deplores the loss of lives and the displacement of civilians on both sides,” said United Nations spokeswoman Vannina Maestracci.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon– File Photo

Also read: India's defence minister warns Pakistan over LoC skirmish

Both countries have accused the other of igniting the latest hostilities that have hit heavily populated civilian areas. India says it will not talk to Pakistan or stop firing until its neighbour backs down first.

The UN chief “encourages the governments of India and Pakistan to resolve all differences through dialogue and to engage constructively to find a long-term solution for peace and stability in Kashmir,” the spokeswoman told reporters.

Since their partition in 1947, the countries have fought three wars – two over Kashmir. Despite numerous military skirmishes, there has not been a full-blown war since they both tested nuclear weapons in 1998.

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Anjali

Oct 09, 2014 11:07pm

we love you sudarshan

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krishna prasad Toronto

Oct 09, 2014 11:14pm

Hope the common sense prevails and the games on border stops.

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PakPower

Oct 09, 2014 11:21pm

United Nations is a useless organization. All they do is 'express concern' while 67 years on, they couldn't even help resolve the Kashmir dispute.

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Oct 09, 2014 11:24pm

Thank Goodness, at least an artist has the level of understanding and wisdom to show the way to all these warmongers. We cannot resolve differences between India and Pakistan by using military force. The only way is through negotiation and discussion. Why not just let sleeping dogs lie.

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NaveedJ

Oct 09, 2014 11:26pm

War does not decide who is right, it only decides who is "left". A message to both Pakistan and Inidia!

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allaisa

Oct 09, 2014 11:31pm

Today UNO is impotent and irrelevant. It was made that way the five permanent members. Boot them out or strip them of their veto powers or start a new UNO with some teeth.

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Ahmed USA

Oct 09, 2014 11:36pm

Pakistan and India are facing enormous socio-economic challenges...where almost 80% of their population in both countries live below poverty i.e. about 1.2 billion people roughly 17% of the world population...do the right thing...be responsible...be good neighbors...help each other and intertwine to find solutions for eradication of poverty and suffering of masses...

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NHM

Oct 09, 2014 11:42pm

Mr Ban Ki Moon, the average Pakistani or Indian cannot understand the sudden upsurge in border skirmishes particularly when things have been quiet for such a long time and there is a political upheaval in Pakistan, and there is nothing, absolutely nothing, to be gained on either side from such an exercise Is there more to it than meets the eye?

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Black Sabbath

Oct 09, 2014 11:45pm

We sit behind computers in the safety of our homes & make jingoistic & belligerent statements without realizing that real people are dying & families are being destroyed because of this insanity. Our stance would change if it were our loved ones being killed by bullets or if we we had to flee our homes. Indians & Pakistanis, please appeal to your respective governments to stop this madness.

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ABHAI

Oct 09, 2014 11:55pm

@NaveedJ Very well said Naveed.

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DMDiL

Oct 09, 2014 11:57pm

UN? what is UN? They are a Joke.. They can't help people of Kashmir, statement from them is like Car horns.. Only know how to make lousy noise...

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Ahmer

Oct 10, 2014 12:00am

Shame on Ban ki-moon. UN Secretary General is not meant to express toothless concern. He should immediately send observers to monitor peace along the LoC. He does not need Security Council resolution to send observers anywhere in the world.

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Ram Mittal

Oct 10, 2014 12:17am

Pakistan - After UN go where?

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Frankenstein

Oct 10, 2014 12:24am

In other words "keep on fighting, UN won't interfere.'

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Payal

Oct 10, 2014 12:40am

Really wish some sane minds from both India and Pakistan could stop this insanity. Pakistani military need to listen to the political class while Indian military needs to show restraint and be the first one to stop. Poor governance and military ego has claimed multiple lives already.

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indian

Oct 10, 2014 12:46am

@PakPower thats because there is no dispute,,

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Srini

Oct 10, 2014 12:52am

Mr. Ban Ki moon do the same with you neighboring country North Korea, why is your country not so successful after so many years with talks? Why Turkey a NATO alliance not stopping atrocities committed by ISIS in Syria? There are more serious problems in the world than these small spats, concentrate on them a make this world a better place to live.

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gary

Oct 10, 2014 01:22am

@NaveedJ well said

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Tony Jboye

Oct 10, 2014 01:25am

This border shelling is bad for both countries and very bad to the innocent villagers affected. It should stop immediately.

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101Times

Oct 10, 2014 01:25am

@indian, What makes you think there is no dispute? apart from the obvious where India doesn't want any third part mediation into a resolution to this issue, something India has said many times but on the flip side something Pakistan has asked for many times! So you see 'indian' there is a dispute and there will be one until this is resolved.

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Youth

Oct 10, 2014 01:28am

May I boldly ask Mr. moon what real role did he play to mediate peace between India & Pakistan during his years in office as UN head. Lip service is no better than sir bubbles

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Naveed

Oct 10, 2014 01:47am

Modi has to project his Strongman Image at all cost. If lets that veneer down, all his persona, all his dynamism all his clout will disappear. Will he resolve any thing, I doubt it. Then India is never interested in resolving Kashmir, because any resolution will likely be based on the wishes of the residents of the valley and that is 100% against India.

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Jawad

Oct 10, 2014 02:20am

Politicians and army on both sides should read it--- bullets can't bring peace ---- so true. Politicians on both sides once again get busy spilling hatred propaganda just to become popular. ( at the cost of innocents lives ). People on both sides once again getting emotional --- somebody should ask people who live on both sides of border and their lives are at risk /- how they feel? For the past 60 some years politicians play this card to gain popularity and every time people on both sides fall for it. Never fails.

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Harmony

Oct 10, 2014 02:37am

@ZR - "The only way is through negotiation and discussion". Good point...but India showed belligerence and cancelled scheduled talks on a silly point.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Oct 10, 2014 02:55am

Why not implement in letter and spirit the U.N. resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir hanging on since last 67 years the same way similar U.N. resolutions were implemented in case of Iraq in March 2003? Why does U.N. has double standards in implementing its own resolutions? Is U.N. afraid of anybody? The answer to the above intriguing but interesting questions are left to be answered by the enlightened, educated, enduring and excelling readers and writers of this great DAWN forum.

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Sujit

Oct 10, 2014 03:17am

My thought goes to poor people who either lost their lives or got injured. And what about the loss of properties and belongings. Who is taking care of them and compensating them other than false propaganda. What is their fault and why are they suffering? My gut feeling says it must have started due to ego and stupidity of some officers of both sides and flared up subsequently. Now political jokers are busy gaining milage out of it. Now this what going to happen 1) Poor civilians who are affected will be poorer, 2) People who initiated will be honored for their fighting spirit 3) Political leaders will gain milage 5) Some Idiots will boost their false patriotism in various ways for nothing. This is a very sad outcome.

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Allaisa

Oct 10, 2014 03:53am

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad First you should read the UNSC resolutions. These resolutions are not enforceable by the UNO.

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Rev. Eldrick Lal

Oct 10, 2014 04:26am

Indians and Pakistanis need to be careful from the menace of nuclear war!!!!

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Samrat

Oct 10, 2014 04:28am

UN is not a toothless organisation.. but the shimla accord in 1972 between India and Pakistan has left the UN powerless in the Kashmir issue.. after all, the UN is a legitimate organisation which has to respect legitimate bilateral treaties signed by nations.. India and Pakistan have themselves booted UN out of Kashmir by declaring it a bilateral issue.... so why blame the UN?? Blame your governments..!!!

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Srikant

Oct 10, 2014 04:32am

@Harmony why silly point, do we talk to any kashmiri from POK side while dealing with talks, answer is no. we told you to not talk to separatists but your envoy still goes with it. talk should happen but you should respect each others words and dignity

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Mohan

Oct 10, 2014 04:44am

@NaveedJ : Very well put. Also, kudos to your media for reporting this objectively. The Indian media is just indulging in sensationalism and war-mongering forcing some of us to come here to get both sides of the story.

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Jesal

Oct 10, 2014 06:14am

Just because of a few useless leaders in both countries, innocent people are dying. I pray for the day when both Pakistanis and Indians are free from this nonsense and can easily visit either countries without a worry in the world!

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Bong

Oct 10, 2014 06:18am

@101Times : It is already resolved...status quo. Read Simla agreement. That was the last agreement and the last agreement stands.

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Bong

Oct 10, 2014 06:25am

The question here is whether it can be resolved from WIN / LOSE situation to WIN / WIN situation. What have both parties got to gain....peace, prosperity, human development. In WIN / LOSE situation one of the parties has to lose face. That can happen only with a full fledged war and destruction. My solution....chill....dont talk on any subject for the next 10 years. Keep the hate mongers in your countries under control. When both countries start feeling dependence on a neighbour for their own interests start talking again.

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Chintamani Gokhale

Oct 10, 2014 07:09am

Ban should pay attention to more important things like Ebola and Crisis with ISIS, which are going to kill far more people than the firing across the LOC .

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Haider Rehman

Oct 10, 2014 08:26am

@Ram Mittal We keep responding until you stop.

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Syed

Oct 10, 2014 08:33am

I am from Pakistan and I say no to WAR. We are neighbours.

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Desi

Oct 10, 2014 09:02am

Wakeup .. UN is not the answer. I do not understand why UN statement is such a big story. Stop looking at it. Unless u don't know what to do. Wakeup Pakistan

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Salari

Oct 10, 2014 09:28am

First have courage to do referendum in Kashmir then tell us what to do

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jeetainderroy

Oct 10, 2014 09:35am

The Billion dollar question is who should stop the firing first, whether India ? or whether Pakistan ? The answer is both are playing pehle tum pehle tum.

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Pavan

Oct 10, 2014 09:49am

@Salari We do referendum there in every 5 years and there is elected govt by people of Jammu & Kashmir.

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Jatin

Oct 10, 2014 10:03am

Can pakistan not resolve the dispute at its own.... why is there begging before the UN...

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Mohit Sharma

Oct 10, 2014 10:23am

@Harmony May I ask why pakistan was so eager to meet separatists at the time ...... was that to mock India or to show that they had got the upper hand... brother dont be aggressive and at the same time dont tolerate it. Live and let live. Blessed be all

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MUHAMMAD RAMZAN

Oct 10, 2014 10:24am

Hats off. To Indian sand artist. Peace is essential for both country. God bless you all.

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Ahmer

Oct 10, 2014 10:48am

Let us complain to UN Security Council and request a neutral inquiry into the death of so many innocent people and UN observers to monitor to maintain the peace for future.

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Muslim

Oct 10, 2014 11:52am

UN is hostage to 5 P and is driven by USA. First democratize UNO by finishing veto power and see the results. However, a power full country is feared with, so every country needs to become strong as the old saying still holds good, JIS KI LATHI, US KI BANS. Therefore the role of UNO for peace is no more visible.

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Mr Universe

Oct 10, 2014 11:56am

@NaveedJ Naved, you touched my heart bro. Hope the leaders of both countries read this message

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Sohail

Oct 10, 2014 12:20pm

@NHM Kashmir issue

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Sohail

Oct 10, 2014 12:25pm

@Sujit Exactly. Both sides should show tolerance at-least their senior leadership.

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Ravi

Oct 14, 2014 02:10pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Look at Iraq now.The answer to your question is there for everyone to see in Panavision. Where is Iraq now? What happened to its people? Do we you need such a solution for South Asia?

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