FLASH
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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the escalation of violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan and called for an "immediate cessation of hostilities," following Pakistan's declaration of "open war" against the Afghan Taliban government.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told a news conference that Guterres was deeply concerned about the escalation of violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He stressed that the Secretary-General calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and reiterates his call on the parties to resolve their differences through diplomatic means.
"The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the escalation of violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the impact of this violence on the civilian population. She calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and reiterates her call on the parties to resolve their disputes through diplomatic means," Stephane Dujarric told reporters.
Particular concern was expressed about the humanitarian consequences in Afghanistan, where nearly 22 million people depend on humanitarian aid, while incessant cross-border shelling has caused hundreds of civilian casualties and injuries so far. The conflict has escalated rapidly following Pakistani airstrikes in the Afghan provinces of Nangarhar, Paktika and Khost on 21 February, which Pakistan justified as retaliation for terrorist attacks attributed to Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants based in Afghanistan.
On February 26, Afghan Taliban forces launched retaliatory attacks on Pakistani positions along the Durand Line, leading to the declaration by Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif that the country is now at "open war" with Afghanistan.
Pakistan has carried out airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, targeting military targets, with both sides reporting heavy casualties and claiming superiority. The Afghan Taliban have expressed a willingness to negotiate, while the UN, the International Red Cross and Iran have called for the protection of civilians and a peaceful solution.
The conflict threatens to further destabilize the region, where long-standing tensions over militant havens, the disputed border and the return of Afghan refugees have reached a peak.
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