Khaberni - Pakistan confirmed on Saturday its determination to defend itself, after receiving support from the United States in its "open war" against the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan.
"Open war"
The United States announced its support for Pakistan on Friday.
The Deputy Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Alison Hooker, wrote on X following talks with a Pakistani official: "We continue to closely monitor the situation and have expressed our support for Pakistan’s right to defend itself against Taliban attacks."
This comes after months of deteriorating relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Islamabad bombing Kabul and other major Afghan cities on Friday, declaring an "open war" against the Taliban authorities in response to an Afghan attack across the border.
In turn, Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed on X Saturday morning that Pakistan will protect its territory "under all circumstances."
This occurs while Islamabad accuses Kabul of harboring armed groups that launch attacks in Pakistan from Afghanistan, a claim denied by the Taliban government.
The Pakistani Taliban movement has claimed most of these attacks.
Meanwhile, the confrontations have recently escalated with the closure of border crossings since the battles that erupted in October, resulting in more than 70 casualties from both sides.
Overnight, Pakistan bombed several Afghan locations including the capital Kabul, Kandahar city, and Paktia province in the east of the country, which Interior Minister Mohsen Naqvi described as an "appropriate response" to the Afghan attack on Thursday.
Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif wrote on X, "Our patience has run out. It is now an open war between us."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif stated on his government's X account that "our forces have all the necessary capacity to crush any aggressive ambition."
In contrast, Taliban authorities' spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid responded by stating his government desires to resolve the conflict through "dialogue."
He stated during a press conference "We have repeatedly emphasized the need for a peaceful solution and still desire to resolve the issue through dialogue," noting "Pakistani reconnaissance aircraft are currently flying in Afghan airspace."
"Cease fighting immediately"
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Friday for an "immediate cessation of hostilities" between the countries, expressing "great concern" about "the impact of this violence on civilian populations," according to his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry urged in a statement Afghanistan and Pakistan to refrain from any actions that might ignite the conflict.
In response to the overnight bombing, the Taliban authorities announced on Friday new "widespread strikes against Pakistani soldiers' positions."
