The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:
The Secretary-General has been following the situation in Jammu and Kashmir with concern and makes an appeal for maximum restraint.
The position of the United Nations on this region is governed by the Charter of the United Nations and applicable Security Council resolutions.
The Secretary-General also recalls the 1972 Agreement on bilateral relations between India and Pakistan, also known as the Simla Agreement, which states that the final status of Jammu and Kashmir is to be settled by peaceful means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
The Secretary-General is also concerned over reports of restrictions on the Indian side of Kashmir, which could exacerbate the human rights situation in the region.
The Secretary-General calls on all parties to refrain from taking steps that could affect the status of Jammu and Kashmir.