Pakistan-Afghanistan War Live Updates: UN Chief Calls On Islamabad, Kabul To Reduce Escalations

Iran has offered to help “facilitate dialogue” to resolve conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan. This came after Islamabad declared “open war” on the Taliban government, conducting air strikes on Kabul following border clashes.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready to provide any assistance necessary to facilitate dialogue and to enhance understanding and cooperation between the two countries,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X.

Although Pakistan welcomed the return of Taliban in 2021, the camaraderie didn’t last long. According to Islamabad, the leadership of militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and many of its fighters are based in Afghanistan, using its soil to launch attacks against Pak.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on Afghanistan and Pakistan to reduce tensions and adhere to international law amid escalating clashes along their border.

Amid ongoing clashes with Afghanistan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the people of Pakistan and its armed forces are fully prepared to protect the country’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He also issued a warning to Afghanistan, saying Pak will crush “aggressive ambitions”.

Tensions escalated between Pakistan and Afghanistan earlier this week after Islamabad launched airstrikes on militant targets across the border, claiming the attack killed at least 70 terrorists.

The United Nations stated 13 civilians were killed in the strikes. The attack came amid a fragile ceasefire after border clashes in October that had left dozens of soldiers dead.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over the reports of border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

“The Secretary-General urges the parties to continue to seek to resolve any differences through diplomacy”, the statement added.

Pakistan launched a retaliatory operation in retaliation for the alleged border attacks by the Afghan Taliban, claiming it had killed over 130 Afghan fighters.

Providing an update on operation Ghazab lil Haq — commenced late Thursday evening — Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that at least 133 Afghan Taliban operatives were killed and more than 200 were injured, according to a PTI report.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has warned Afghanistan, saying Pak will “crush aggressive ambitions”.

“The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan armed forces,” he said. The statement comes amid soaring escalations between the two neighbours amid cross-border attacks and airstrikes.

Earlier this week, the Taliban had issued a stern warning to Pakistan, saying it would deliver an “appropriate and measured response” to the airstrikes carried out by Pakistan over the weekend.

Islamabad stated the strikes had targeted camps of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISKP) militants in eastern Afghanistan, according to a Reuters report.

The Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Thursday rejected India’s comments condemning airstrikes by the Pakistani military in Afghanistan, PTI reported.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had on Sunday described the strikes as another attempt by Pakistan to “externalise its internal failures”.

He had affirmed India’s support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.

Afghanistan said it renewed attacks against Pakistani troops along their shared frontier on Friday, after Islamabad launched air strikes on key Afghan cities including Kabul and Kandahar.

“After airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar and other provinces, once again wide-ranging retaliatory operations were launched against the positions of Pakistani soldiers, in the directions of Kandahar and Helmand as well,” Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a post on ‘X’.

Amid hostilities with Afghanistan, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif invoked India to target the Afghan Taliban government, claiming it became a “proxy for New Delhi”.

“Pakistan made every effort to keep the situation normal through direct means and through friendly countries. It engaged in full-fledged diplomacy. But the Taliban became a proxy for India”, Asif wrote in a post on ‘X’.

Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi said Friday that the strikes on Afghanistan were a “befitting response” to Kabul’s attack on the border.

“Pakistan’s armed forces have given a befitting response to the Afghan Taliban’s open aggression,” said Naqvi.

Following months of worsening violence alongside border, Pakistan has declared an “open war” with Afghanistan amid airstrikes and cross-border attacks.

Islamabad launched air strikes on key Afghan cities, including Kabul and Kandahar. The Taliban government responded with retaliatory operations, confirming the air strikes.