Washington: UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres called on Friday for an immediate cessation of hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

According to Qatar News Agency, Guterres' spokesperson, St©phane Dujarric, said in a press statement that the Secretary-General "is deeply concerned by the escalation of violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the impact that violence is having on civilian populations." He added that Guterres "calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and he reiterates his call on the parties to resolve any differences through diplomacy."