UN Chief ‘Deeply Concerned’ by Escalation of Violence Between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Calls for Immediate Ceasefire
UNITED NATIONS — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is deeply concerned by the escalating violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan and its devastating impact on civilian populations, his spokesperson said on February 27, 2026, as the two neighbors traded increasingly deadly cross-border strikes .
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the secretary-general, told reporters at the daily noon briefing in New York that Guterres “calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities” and reiterated his demand that both parties resolve their differences through diplomacy . The statement came as Pakistan’s defense minister declared an “open war” against Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government following days of intense military exchanges .
“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,” Dujarric said . “He calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and he reiterates his call on the parties to resolve any differences through diplomacy” .
Humanitarian Concerns and Civilian Protection
Beyond the immediate call for de-escalation, the UN voiced specific alarm over the humanitarian consequences of the fighting. Dujarric noted that UN humanitarian officials are particularly concerned about the impact of attacks, including a reported incident at a transit and reception center at the Torkham border crossing in eastern Afghanistan .
“We continue to call on all parties to the conflict to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law; in particular, to ensure that civilians are protected at all times, as well as civilian infrastructure,” Dujarric emphasized .
The warning carries particular weight given Afghanistan’s already precarious humanitarian situation. According to UN humanitarians, years of conflict, poverty, and natural disasters such as drought and earthquakes have left nearly half the country’s population—approximately 22 million men, women, and children—in need of humanitarian aid .
“This number will only increase if the fighting goes on or escalates,” Dujarric warned .
Funding Shortfalls Complicate Response
The UN’s ability to respond to worsening humanitarian needs is severely constrained by funding shortfalls. Dujarric disclosed that the organization has received only 11 percent—or $181 million—of the $1.7 billion required for this year’s Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Afghanistan .
The funding gap means that even as conflict displaces more people and disrupts access to basic services, aid agencies are struggling to maintain existing programs, let alone scale up to meet new needs .
The UN and its humanitarian partners are monitoring the situation closely and will continue to support wherever possible, Dujarric said, but he stressed that additional contributions are urgently needed .
Escalating Conflict
The secretary-general’s appeal comes amid a dramatic escalation in hostilities between the two neighbors. On February 27, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declared an “all-out confrontation” with Afghanistan, stating publicly that “our patience has reached its limit. Now it is open war between us and you” .
The declaration followed days of escalating violence. On February 26, Pakistan launched extensive airstrikes targeting what it described as Afghan military installations in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia provinces . Those strikes were themselves a response to what Pakistan termed “unprovoked aggression” by Afghan forces, who had launched “large-scale offensive operations” against Pakistani military centers along the disputed Durand Line .
On February 28, the conflict intensified further when Afghan forces shot down a Pakistani fighter jet over the eastern city of Jalalabad and captured its pilot alive, according to Afghan police and military officials . The downing of the aircraft marked a significant escalation, demonstrating Afghanistan’s willingness and ability to directly engage Pakistani air power .
UN Political Engagement
Dujarric confirmed that the UN political mission in Kabul is closely monitoring the rapidly deteriorating situation. When asked about Pakistan’s declaration of “open war,” he responded that the mission is “obviously closely monitoring the situation, in touch with people there, and various contacts are being had” .
The secretary-general’s latest statement follows earlier expressions of concern. On February 26, Guterres had issued a note to correspondents stating he was following with “concern” the reports of cross-border clashes between Afghan and Pakistani security forces . In that earlier statement, he commended mediation efforts by several member states in recent months and urged the parties to continue seeking to resolve differences through diplomacy .
However, the escalation since Thursday has rendered those earlier mediation efforts increasingly fragile. Qatar and Turkey, which brokered an initial ceasefire following deadly clashes in October 2024 that killed more than 70 people, have renewed their diplomatic engagement, but with limited success so far .
Broader Regional Implications
The UN’s call for restraint reflects broader international concern that the conflict could destabilize an already volatile region. Russia, China, and Iran have all issued statements urging de-escalation and offering mediation, but the fighting has continued to intensify .
The humanitarian warning from UN officials underscores the stakes. Afghanistan’s population has endured decades of conflict, and the return to large-scale hostilities threatens to undo whatever fragile progress has been made since the Taliban takeover in 2021 . The Torkham border crossing, where the reported incident occurred, is a critical transit point for refugees returning from Pakistan and for commercial trade .
UN human rights chief Volker Türk also appealed for dialogue between the two countries on February 26, while condemning ever harsher edicts issued by Afghan authorities that continue to severely impact women and girls . His statement highlighted the intersecting crises facing Afghanistan: external conflict, internal repression, and humanitarian collapse .
Path Forward
As the conflict enters its second week with no signs of abating, the secretary-general’s call for an immediate cessation of hostilities represents the international community’s most urgent plea. Whether the parties will heed that call remains unclear.
Pakistan’s military has indicated it will continue operations until its security objectives are met. Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government has framed its actions as legitimate defense against repeated Pakistani violations of sovereignty. With both sides claiming military successes and neither showing willingness to back down, the path to diplomacy appears increasingly obstructed.
For now, the UN’s message is clear: stop the fighting, protect civilians, and return to the negotiating table. As Dujarric put it, the number of Afghans in need “will only increase if the fighting goes on or escalates.” With nearly 22 million already depending on humanitarian aid, the margin for further deterioration is perilously thin .
with inputs from
UN: Noon briefing February 27 2026
Deccan Herald: Guterres deeply concerned escalation
Xinhua: UN chief calls immediate cessation hostilities
BERNAMA: Guterres demands ceasefire Pakistan-Afghanistan
For broader context, see our in-depth analysis on Modern World Order Explained: Power, Alliances & Global Systems.
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