Alarmed at the eruption of another global hotspot, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called upon Pakistan and Iran to sort out their security concerns through dialogue and avoid escalating the military strikes against each other. 

“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 neighbourly relations”, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday.  

“Deeply concerned about the recent exchange of military strikes”  between them, “he urges both countries to exercise maximum restraint to avoid a further escalation of tensions”, Dujarric said.

Iran and Pakistan carried out attacks inside each other’s territories against what they said were terrorist bases.

Iran struck two bases of the Sunni terror group, Jaish al-Adl, in Balochistan's Koh-e-Sabz, about 50 km inside Pakistan, with missiles and drones on Tuesday.

According to Islamabad, two children were killed and several people were injured.

Pakistan, where an election is due next month, retaliated on Thursday with air strikes in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province.

Its foreign ministry said that aircraft, rockets and missiles carried out the “specifically targeted precision military strikes”.

Iran said that nine “foreigners” were killed –  three women, two men and four children.An Islamabad spokesperson said they were of Pakistani origin.

(SAM)