UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk implored Pakistan and Afghanistan to end the fighting.

“Civilians on both sides of the border are now having to flee from airstrikes, heavy artillery fire, mortar shelling and gunfire,” Turk said.

“I plead with all parties to bring an end to the conflict, and to prioritise helping those experiencing extreme hardship,” he said in a statement issued in Geneva, a copy of which was made available to Dawn.