The United States has affirmed Pakistan’s “right to defend itself” after Islamabad reported major clashes with Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers. A State Department spokesperson said: “The United States supports Pakistan's right to defend itself against attacks from the Taliban, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group.” Washington regards the Afghan Taliban as a terrorist organisation and considers Pakistan a key non-Nato ally.
The latest fighting began after Pakistan launched airstrikes on Afghan territory last weekend, prompting retaliatory Afghan attacks along the border. Islamabad says the strikes targeted Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants operating from Afghanistan, who it accuses of waging an insurgency within Pakistan. Afghanistan denies harbouring the TTP, arguing that Pakistan is deflecting blame for its own security failures.
Pakistan’s information minister, Attaullah Tarar, reported that more than 331 Afghan Taliban forces have been killed and over 500 others wounded during the ongoing attacks. Pakistan carried out air and ground attacks in Kabul, Kandahar, and other towns, reportedly destroying military installations and posts, including 102 Afghan posts, 22 captured positions, and 163 tanks and armoured vehicles at 37 locations. Afghan officials described civilian areas as also being hit, with at least 11 people killed.
On Friday, the Afghan government said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed during its strikes, and Afghan losses were far lower than Pakistan claimed. On Saturday, Pakistan’s state-run media reported the country’s air force carried out strikes targeting key military installations in various areas of eastern Afghanistan. Hundreds of residents living near the northwestern Torkham border crossing have fled to safer areas, and Pakistan has transported dozens of Afghan refugees waiting at the crossing to safer locations.
Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif wrote on X: “Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us.” Afghan Taliban interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani warned the conflict “will be very costly” but said Afghan forces had not deployed beyond those already engaged. The Taliban emphasised their reliance on guerrilla tactics, stating they had defeated “the world, not through technology, but through unity and solidarity”, despite lacking conventional air capabilities.
Diplomatic efforts are underway to prevent further escalation. Afghan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi spoke with Qatar’s Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi to maintain dialogue and reduce tensions. Qatar, which mediated previous ceasefires, is coordinating with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, China, and other countries to defuse the crisis. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, called on both sides to de-escalate, and the United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and resolution through diplomacy.
