ISLAMABAD
\nThe president of the International Committee of the Red Cross called on Friday for a de-escalation of hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan, insisting that civilians must be protected and healthcare access guaranteed.
\nPakistan bombed major cities in Afghanistan including the capital Kabul on Friday, with Islamabad\u2019s defence minister declaring the neighbours at \u201copen war\u201d following months of tit-for-tat clashes.
\n\u201cWe are witnessing a profound escalation of hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan,\u201d ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said in a statement, calling for \u201crestraint and de-escalation\u201d.
\nShe highlighted that the upsurge in violence was harming people in a region that had \u201calready endured decades of conflict, displacement and loss\u201d. \u201cThey have seen and felt the impact of war on their loved ones in their communities,\u201d she said.
\nPakistan\u2019s latest operation came after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border troops on Thursday night in retaliation for earlier air strikes by Islamabad.
\nIslamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against militant groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban government denies.
\nSpoljaric stressed that under international law, \u201ccivilians, the wounded and others not — or no longer — taking part in the fighting must be protected\u201d.
\n\u201cHumanitarian assistance must reach all those affected (and) hospitals must be able to operate and access to essential services must be guaranteed,\u201d she added.
\n\u201cThese are not privileges,\u201d insisted the head of the ICRC, which is the caretaker of the Geneva Conventions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross called on Friday for a de-escalation of hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan, insisting that civilians must be protected and healthcare access guaranteed. Pakistan bombed major cities in Afghanistan including the capital Kabul on Friday, with Islamabad\u2019s defence minister declaring the neighbours at \u201copen war\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-534028","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n