UN Human Rights Chief Türk: Af-Pak Conflict 'Piles Misery on Misery', Pleads for Dialogue

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk issued a formal statement condemning the Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict, calling it a situation that 'piles misery on misery' for civilian populations already suffering from food insecurity, displacement, and decades of war. Türk called for immediate dialogue and de-escalation, noting that OHCHR had documented hundreds of civilian casualties since fighting intensified on February 26. The statement cited ongoing cross-border shelling in Kunar, Nangarhar, Khost, and Paktika as causing disproportionate civilian harm. Türk urged both Pakistan and the Taliban government to respect international humanitarian law and called on regional powers including China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar to intensify mediation efforts. The statement represented the UN's strongest formal condemnation of the conflict to date.