The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross has called for a de-escalation of hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan, insisting that civilians must be protected and healthcare access guaranteed, AFP reports.

ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said in a statement that her organisation was “preparing an operational response to humanitarian needs on the ground”, but stressed that “no humanitarian response can compensate for political will to respect the rules of war and prioritise de-escalation”.