UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to reporters at the UN headquarters in New York, on Dec. 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Xie E)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both countries to exercise maximum restraint to avoid a further escalation of tensions, said a UN spokesman.
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday expressed deep concern over the recent exchange of military strikes between Iran and Pakistan, which have reportedly caused casualties on both sides, said his spokesman.
Guterres urged both countries to exercise maximum restraint to avoid a further escalation of tensions, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement.
"The secretary-general underlines that all security concerns between the two countries must be addressed by peaceful means, through dialogue and cooperation, in accordance with the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and good neighborly relations," said the statement.
Pakistan carried out strikes early Thursday morning against what it called terrorist hideouts inside Iran. The Pakistani strike followed Iranian attacks on what Tehran called terrorist bases in Pakistan's Balochistan province on Tuesday. ■
