WCC NEWS: WCC urges India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, prioritize peace

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, in light of the recent escalation of violence following India’s military strikes on Pakistan, urged both nations to exercise restraint and to prioritize peace over further escalation. A street in Lahore, Pakistan. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth 07 May 2025 “We express deep concern for the welfare of the people of both India and Pakistan, and of the wider region, in the intensifying confrontation between the two nuclear-armed nations,” said Pillay.  On 22 April, five armed militants brutally killed 26 civilians near Pahalgam in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.  “With the current retaliation by India and the response by Pakistan, many more civilians are being killed and injured,” Pillay said. "The pain of loss and the urgency of justice must not lead to further violence or suffering.” While Pillay acknowledged the legitimate desire for security, he noted that the path of retaliation only deepens wounds and perpetuates cycles of violence that have plagued the region for decades.  “India and Pakistan share not only a border but also deep histories, cultures, and hopes for a better future,” he said. “Escalation of violence and conflict will only bring more grief to innocent lives on both sides.” Pillay named dialogue, diplomacy, and mutual respect as the only sustainable paths to lasting peace. “Let us honour those lost not with retaliation but with resolve — the resolve to break the cycle of violence and choose peace,” he said. “We pray that compassion will triumph over anger and that leaders will rise to the challenge of protecting life and stability over political gain.”  Pillay extended prayers for the healing of the wounds of this conflict, the mending of relationships, and the opening of doors to peace and prosperity for both India and Pakistan, so that life may flourish.  “The people of the region deserve the opportunity to live free from the threat of violence and to pursue lives filled with hope and possibilities,” he said.  WCC statement on the recent escalation of violence following India’s military strikes on Pakistan See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland