Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has urged India and Pakistan to cool tensions and unite against extremism, calling for dialogue and diplomacy to promote peace and security.

World leaders urged the two sides to exercise "restraint" and called for a de-escalation of hostilities. "The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan," UN Secretary-General António Guterres's spokesman said. He said Guterres is calling for "maximum military restraint from both countries".