UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on India and Pakistan to work together to address their concerns over international terrorism, according to his Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq.

“It’s important for all of the countries, including India and Pakistan, to work together to deal with any of the concerns that they face regarding international terrorism,” Haq said on Monday.

Haq was responding to a question from a Palestinian journalist who linked Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Munir Akram’s mention of a “principal adversary” to India.

Speaking at the Security Council after it voted to extend the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Akram referred to the recent hijacking of the Jaffer Express by the Baloch Liberation Army but avoided naming any specific country.

“We also have evidence that this attack was initiated and financed by our principal adversary, using its proxies in Afghanistan,” Akram said, without directly mentioning India or Iran.

Akram claimed that the attackers were in direct contact with their “handlers” in Afghanistan, from where the attack was planned and directed.

He further alleged that the attacks were aimed at “disrupting Pakistan’s cooperation with China and the implementation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.”

The hijacking, which occurred at a mountain pass, resulted in the deaths of 25 passengers and 33 terrorists during a Pakistani army rescue operation, according to Pakistani officials.

The Security Council unanimously extended UNAMA’s mandate for another year.

UNAMA was established in 2002 to support Afghanistan, but its relationship with the Taliban government has been strained due to restrictions on women.