Pakistaninfo-icon called on the United Nationsinfo-icon on Friday to investigate whether Indiainfo-icon used Israeli-made Pegasus spyware to spy on public figures including Prime Minister Imran Khaninfo-icon.

The Pakistani leader's phone number was on a list of what an investigation by a group of 17 international mediainfo-icon organisations and Amnesty Internationalinfo-icon said were potential surveillance targets for countries that bought the spyware.

Pakistan's foreign office issued a statement accusing India of "state-sponsored, continuing and widespread surveillance and spying operations in clear breach of global norms of responsible state behaviour."

"In view of the gravity of these reports, we call on the relevant UN bodies to thoroughly investigate the matter, bring the facts to light, and hold the Indian perpetrators to account," it said.

India's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the statement.

The Indian government has already faced calls by domestic political opponents to investigate allegations of spying on officials including the main opposition leader, Rahul Gandhi. Delhi has not responded to the allegations.

The investigation published by the media organisations on Sunday said spyware made and licensed by Israeli company NSO had been used in attempted and successful hacks of 37 smartphones belonging to journalists, government officials and human rightsinfo-icon activists.

NSO has said its product was intended only for use by vetted government intelligence and law enforcement agenciesinfo-icon to fight terrorism and crime.

Arch-rivals and neighbours, Pakistan and India have fought two of their three wars over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmirinfo-icon, which both claim in full.

The statement by Pakistan's foreign office said Delhi had long been using such tactics in Indian-administered Kashmir, an accusation to which India did not immediately respond.