UN Spokesperson Says 'We're In A Better Place' After India-Pak Agree To Ceasefire

A spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday that with India and Pakistan reaching an understanding to end hostilities, “we're in a better place,” hoping that the countries would use it to deal with their “outstanding issues.”

India and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire to end the quickly intensifying four day escalation involving cross-border drone and missile strikes. 

As per PTI, Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the Secretary-General said that “The ceasefire is holding. I think we have seen we're in a better place than we were before. We hope that the parties will use this to deal with a lot of the outstanding issues between them.” 

Guterres described that ceasefire as a “positive step” and welcomed the ceasefire. Guterres said he hopes “the agreement will contribute to lasting peace and foster an environment conducive to addressing broader, longstanding issues between the two countries,” Dujarric had said in a statement on Saturday, PTI reported.

Whereas the New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “In this city, Indian and Pakistani communities live side by side — as neighbors, small business owners, colleagues, and friends — united as New Yorkers. We celebrate this moment of calm and the strength our South Asian communities bring to the fabric of our city,” in a post on X.

The ceasefire came after India launched Operation Sindoor after midnight of May 7 and hit nine terrorist infrastructures across Pakistan in precision strikes. In retaliation, Pakistan launched its own operation - Bunyan Marsoos - announcing on Saturday. 

Both sides have claimed to inflict losses, downing planes. India’s Director General of Military Operations said that at least 35-40 Pakistani personnel were killed across Line of Control in artillery and small arms firing.