Islamabad: In a move that underscores the UN’s continued focus on monitoring the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Major General Ramón Guardado Sánchez of Mexico as the Head of Mission and Chief Military Observer for the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).

According to Kashmir Media Service, Guardado succeeds Rear Admiral Guillermo Ríos of Argentina, with the Secretary-General expressing gratitude for Ríos’s contributions to UN peacekeeping efforts. Guardado, who brings decades of military experience, currently serves as the Commissioner of the National Guard in Yucatán, Mexico. He has held a number of prominent positions, including Liaison to Congress for the National Defence Joint Staff and Chief Observer for the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, where he played a key role in monitoring the peace process with the FARC-EP.

Guardado is highly trained in military administration, national security, and peace operations, with educational experiences in both Mexico and the United States, in addition to specialized training in Argentina. UNMOGIP, established by the UN Security Council in 1949, continues to monitor the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan.

Guardado’s appointment is seen as a significant step in strengthening the UN’s role in overseeing the situation in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The mission’s workforce consists of 110 personnel, including 66 civilians, and draws military staff from various countries, including Croatia, the Philippines, and Mexico, among others.