Somalia Urges India, Pakistan To Ease Tensions Through Diplomacy Amid Rising Hostilities

Somali Foreign Minister Abdulsalam Abdillahi Omer has called for restraint and diplomatic engagement between India and Pakistan as tensions escalate between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

In a phone call with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, on Thursday, Omer urged both nations to resolve their disputes through peaceful means. The call comes amid growing fears of a broader conflict following recent hostilities and mutual accusations.

“Somalia encourages both India and Pakistan to prioritize dialogue and regional stability,” Omer said.

Both Somalia and Pakistan currently serve as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. During the conversation, the two ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation and upholding international peace and security.

Tensions between India and Pakistan surged following an April 22 militant attack in Pahalgam, a town in Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 civilians—most of them tourists—were killed. The attack sparked outrage across India and fueled speculation of potential military retaliation.

Pakistan's Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, warned earlier this week that Islamabad had “credible intelligence” of a possible Indian strike within 24 to 36 hours. That timeframe has now passed without incident, but the situation remains volatile.

In a series of tit-for-tat measures, India on Tuesday closed its airspace to Pakistani commercial flights, mirroring a ban Islamabad imposed last week in response to New Delhi’s suspension of visas for Pakistani nationals and withdrawal from a key water-sharing treaty.

Somalia’s call for calm adds to growing international pressure for de-escalation as concerns mount over the potential for miscalculation between the two longtime rivals.

Hassan Abdulle writes from Stadthagen, Germany