United Nations, May 08: As tensions flared along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, there was a sigh of relief today from the United Nations. Despite the recent wave of missile strikes and cross-border shelling between India and Pakistan, all United Nations ceasefire monitors stationed in the region are safe and accounted for, according to the UN.
“We checked with our colleagues in peacekeeping, and they said everybody was accounted for, and everybody was safe,” said Stephanie Tremblay, Associate Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, during a press briefing on Wednesday.
The UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), which has been on the ground since 1949, plays a vital role in monitoring the ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Currently, the mission includes 44 military observers and 75 civilian staff stationed on both sides of the LoC.
This reassurance came amidst escalating military action following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 civilians lost their lives. The attack was reportedly claimed by The Resistance Front, a group linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).
In response, India launched “Operation Sindoor,” a targeted military strike hitting nine locations within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which India identified as terror infrastructure hubs. The Indian Army emphasized that its strikes were “measured and non-escalatory,” avoiding Pakistani military targets.
Pakistan retaliated with shelling across the LoC, reportedly resulting in the death of at least 10 individuals and the downing of three Indian jets, as per local media sources.
The growing hostility has drawn global concern. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged both nations to show restraint. “The world cannot afford a confrontation between these two countries,” his chief spokesperson said.
As the international community watches with bated breath, the safety of the UN observers brings a sliver of comfort—a reminder that even in the fog of conflict, efforts to uphold peace and accountability remain undeterred.
