Guterres calls on Pakistan and Iran to moderate their border conflict

UN Secretary-General Guterres has expressed deep concern over the recent escalation in the border area between Pakistan and Iran. He appealed to both sides to use peaceful means. The USA also expressed concern.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on Iran and Pakistan to show moderation. The background is the mutual rocket fire in the border region in the past few days. Both countries say they are fighting extremist militias on the other side of the border. They accuse each other of letting the militias carry out attacks on their respective countries.

Iran and Pakistan must exercise “the greatest possible restraint” to avoid further escalation, Guterres said through his spokesman. Security problems must be resolved through peaceful means, dialogue and cooperation and territorial integrity must be respected.

Separatists are active on both sides of the border

Separatists are active in the border region and aim to establish an independent state in the eastern Iranian province of Sistan and Balochistan and the western Pakistani province of Baluchistan. Iran said it had attacked the Sunni militia Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan, which in turn responded with missile and drone attacks on targets in Iran.

The mutual attacks have triggered a diplomatic crisis after the states had only just come closer together. Guterres is “deeply concerned,” his spokesman said. Deaths were reported on both sides: Iranian state media spoke of nine deaths, including two children. Two children are said to have been killed in Pakistan, but there was no information about other victims.

Pakistan gathered Security Board – USA worried

In Pakistan, Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar convened the National Security Committee. According to government information, the chief of staff of the army and the head of the secret services will also take part in the meeting.

The US sided with Pakistan in the face of the recent escalation. “As you can see, Iran is not particularly popular in the region,” President Joe Biden said at the White House. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said they were in contact with Pakistan.

Islamabad has the right to defend itself. “They were attacked first by Iran,” Kirby said. However, these are well-armed nations and the USA did not want any further escalation of the conflict. He accused Iran of “destabilizing behavior in the region.”