Surgical strikes: US says Uri attack 'certainly escalated tensions'

The United States said ‘we continue to urge actions to combat and de-legitimise terrorist groups like LeT and JeM'.

Washington

: The United Nations on Friday called on both India and Pakistan to ‘exercise restraint’, a day after India carried out surgical strikes along the Line of Control (LoC), killing 38 terrorists.

“We are following the situation with great concern. The UN Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan is aware of ceasefire violations and is liaising with concerned authorities to obtain further information,” Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon said.

UN calls on governments of India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and continue the effort to resolve differences peacefully through dialogue,” he added.

Meanwhile, the United States said ‘we continue to urge actions to combat and de-legitimise terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).”

US State Department spokesperson John Kirby said the country was watching the situation closely and called on the militaries of India and Pakistan to continue ‘communication’ to reduce tensions.

Condemning the Uri terror attacks once again, Kirby said US Secretary of State John Kerry had spoken to Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on the issue.

Taking a cautious line, Kirby said that while Kerry cautioned Swaraj against escalation of tensions with Pakistan, ‘an attack like that (Uri) certainly escalated tensions.” He however refused to engage in any ‘categorisation’ over the issue.