UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Friday. Fierce fighting broke out on the border between the two countries and Islamabad declared they were in “open war”. In the meantime, neighboring Iran has offered to mediate the dialogue between them, TASR reports, according to AFP and AP reports.
- Fierce fighting and airstrikes broke out on the border between the states.
- Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
- Both sides report heavy losses, the number of casualties cannot be verified.
- Iran and Qatar offer to mediate dialogue between the countries.
- Relations between the two states have worsened, the crossings remain closed.
Guterres “is deeply concerned about the escalation of violence we have seen between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the impact this violence is having on the civilian population,” said UN chief spokesman Stéphane Dujarric. “It calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and reiterates its call for both sides to resolve disputes through diplomacy,” he added.
On Friday night, Pakistan carried out airstrikes in important cities in Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul, targeting military facilities. Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border troops on Thursday evening in retaliation for Islamabad’s airstrikes on Sunday.
Victims are difficult to verify
AFP reporters in Kabul and Kandahar in southern Afghanistan, home to the top leader of the ruling Taliban movement, Haibatullah Akhundzada, heard explosions and fighter jets fly by until morning. The Taliban government said Pakistani reconnaissance aircraft were still flying over Afghanistan on Friday afternoon.
The Taliban claim that Afghan forces killed 55 Pakistani soldiers and captured several others, while 13 Afghan soldiers were also killed. A Pakistani military spokesman told reporters that 274 “regime members and Taliban terrorists” had been killed, for the loss of 12 Pakistani soldiers. Casualty figures reported by both sides are difficult to independently verify.
The sharp increase in violence has fueled international concern. China, Britain and the International Committee of the Red Cross called for immediate de-escalation and a return to dialogue. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced that his country is ready to provide support for dialogue and confidence building between Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to its Ministry of Diplomacy, Qatar is again trying to mediate.
They closed the border crossings
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated in recent months. The border crossings have been largely closed since the fighting last October, which claimed more than 70 lives on both sides. Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of not taking action against militant groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan. The Taliban government denies this.
Most attacks are reported by the so-called Pakistani Taliban – Tehrike Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Its operations in Pakistan intensified after the return of the Afghan Taliban to power in 2021. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on social media that Islamabad had run out of patience and “open war” had now broken out with the Taliban government.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said at a press conference on Friday that Afghanistan wants dialogue and a peaceful solution to the conflict, which he says Pakistan is not interested in.
