United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives in the car explosion near the Red Fort in New Delhi and emphasised the need for a thorough investigation into the incident, according to his spokesperson. “We also, of course, send our condolences to the Government and people of India for what has happened there, and that also needs to be fully investigated,” the Secretary-General’s Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said during a daily press briefing on Tuesday.
The explosion in central Delhi claimed 12 lives and left several others injured. Haq made these remarks in response to questions regarding two separate incidents — the car explosion in New Delhi and a suicide bombing in Islamabad earlier the same day. Addressing the situation in Pakistan’s capital, Haq stated that the UN chief was “deeply saddened” by the suicide attack near a police vehicle outside a court, which killed at least 12 people and injured 36 others.
“The Secretary-General condemns acts of violence and terrorism in the strongest terms. He reiterates that all perpetrators of terrorism must be held accountable and calls for a full investigation,” Haq added. Following the Islamabad blast, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif alleged that groups “active with Indian support” were behind the attack. India firmly dismissed the accusation, calling it “baseless and absurd.”
In a statement, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that Pakistan’s attempt to link India to the attack was a “predictable tactic” by its leadership to divert attention from internal issues. “The international community is well aware of the reality and will not be misled by Pakistan’s desperate ploys,” he asserted. Both incidents — the Delhi explosion and the Islamabad bombing — have drawn widespread condemnation from global leaders, with the UN reiterating its stance against terrorism and urging justice for the victims.
