US supports Pakistan’s ‘right to defend itself’ after strikes inside Afghanistan

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Washington: The United States has expressed support for Pakistan following a new wave of air and missile strikes across Afghanistan, saying Islamabad has the right to protect itself from militant attacks. The comments come as relations between the two neighbours sharply deteriorate after days of cross-border violence.

Officials from Afghanistan’s Taliban-led administration said they remain open to negotiations despite the escalation. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the authorities in Kabul prefer dialogue and are seeking a political solution to defuse the crisis.

According to Taliban officials, Pakistani strikes hit multiple locations, including Kandahar and several eastern provinces, after Afghan forces exchanged fire with Pakistani troops along the border. Islamabad says the operations were carried out in response to repeated attacks originating from Afghan territory.

Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said the country had entered a phase of open confrontation and accused the Taliban authorities of failing to prevent militant groups from launching assaults into Pakistan. Kabul has rejected the accusations and denies any cooperation with Pakistan’s regional rivals.

US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker said she spoke with Pakistan’s foreign secretary Amna Baloch and conveyed condolences for those killed. Writing on social media, Hooker said Washington supports Pakistan’s right to defend itself against attacks by the Taliban, which returned to power after the withdrawal of US-led forces in 2021.

European leaders urged both sides to halt the fighting. The European Union called for an immediate end to hostilities, with foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warning of wider regional consequences if violence continues. The UK’s foreign secretary Yvette Cooper also appealed for de-escalation and a return to mediated talks, after previous efforts failed to produce a lasting settlement.

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