- US President Trump praised Pakistan's leaders and declined to intervene in the conflict with Afghanistan
- Pakistan declared open war on Afghanistan, claiming strikes on 29 locations including Kabul and Kandahar
- Pakistan reported killing 297 militants, while Afghan forces claimed 55 Pakistani soldiers killed or captured
US President Donald Trump refused to intervene in the ongoing Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict while praising Islamabad's "great Prime Minister, General" in an evident diplomatic tilt.
Trump, asked about the strikes on Afghanistan on Friday, praised Pakistan's military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. "I would (intervene), but you have a great prime minister, you have a great general there, you have a great leader. I think two of the people that I really respect a lot. I think Pakistan is doing terrifically well," he told reporters.
His statement came at a time Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif declared a state of "open war" with Afghanistan after tensions flared earlier this week, with Pakistan claiming to have aerially targeted 29 locations across the neighbouring country, including in Kandahar and Kabul, on Friday.
The Pakistani government spokesman said 297 Afghan Taliban and militants had been killed, while Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghan forces killed 55 Pakistani soldiers and captured several others. These were Pakistan's most significant attacks since the Taliban returned to power in 2021 with the US withdrawal.
Hours after Friday's attack, Sharif said his country's armed forces can "crush" aggressors. "Our forces have the full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan armed forces," he said.
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A US State Department spokesperson added that Washington supports Pakistan's "right to defend itself" against Taliban attacks. A US State Department spokesperson added that Washington supports Pakistan's "right to defend itself" against Taliban attacks. The spokesperson also criticised the Taliban's approach to counterterrorism commitments. "The Taliban have consistently failed to uphold their counterterrorism commitments, allowing violence to destabilise the region while terrorist groups use Afghanistan as a launching pad for their heinous attacks."
Meanwhile, Britain called for "de-escalation," China called for a ceasefire and Iran offered to mediate.
The US Embassy and Consulates in Pakistan advised American citizens when visiting certain locations. "Law enforcement facilities, military installations, and major commercial centres remain likely targets for terrorist organisations," the advisory stated. US citizens were urged to exercise caution when visiting such locations, particularly during peak hours.
Turning tables on soured US-Pakistan relations under former US President Joe Biden, Trump shifted the course after assuming the top office for the second time. Islamabad too has often praised Trump for his mediation of conflicts and said he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize. While Pakistan is a major non-NATO ally of Washington, the Afghan Taliban is considered a "terrorist" group by the US.
