Pakistan-Afghanistan war Highlights: ‘Afghanistan willing to negotiate’, says Taliban rulers as conflict escalates
Taliban fighters look up while manning an armed pickup truck at the Afghan side of the Ghulam Khan crossing with Pakistan in Khost province, Afghanistan. (Photo: AP)
Pakistan-Afghanistan War Today News Highlights: Fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban military entered its third day on Saturday, following overnight clashes as the international community expressed increasing concern about the conflict and called for urgent talks. Taliban rules said on Friday that Afghanistan is willing to negotiate. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahi said: “The Islamic emirate of Afghanistan has always tried to resolve issues through dialogue, and now also we want to resolve this matter through dialogue,” he said. The United States expressed support for what it called Pakistan’s “right to defend itself” against attacks from Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers. President Trump also said that “Pakistan is doing terrifically well.”
What is happening?: Explosions and the sound of aircraft were heard in Kabul early Friday, hours after Afghanistan said it had launched attacks on Pakistani border posts. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif wrote on X: “Our patience has reached its limit. Now it is open war between us and you.” Pakistan’s military said it launched an operation named “Ghazab Lil Haq” in response to what it called unprovoked firing from across the border. Afghanistan said its forces had carried out “large-scale offensive operations” against Pakistani military positions along the Durand Line.
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Casualty: Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry said its forces captured more than a dozen Pakistani posts and destroyed 19 check posts and two bases. It said the fighting ended at midnight. Pakistan rejected these claims. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three wounded. He said 36 Afghan fighters were killed. Afghanistan said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and that several were captured. It said eight Afghan soldiers were killed and 11 wounded. The casualty figures from both sides have not been independently verified.
How did it all start?: The escalation follows Pakistani airstrikes last Sunday along the Afghan border. Islamabad said it targeted camps of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Afghanistan however alleged that the strikes hit civilian areas and violated its sovereignty. Afghan spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the cross-border assault was in response to repeated Pakistani actions.
Current situation
- Pakistan said it carried out strikes targeting Afghan military facilities in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. Afghan officials reported civilian injuries near the Torkham border crossing after shelling hit a camp for returnees.
- Residents on both sides have been moved to safer areas. The situation remains tense, with both countries accusing each other of starting the violence.
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