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What you need to know
- Pakistan has bombed major cities in Afghanistan, declaring an ‘open war’
- Afghanistan says it is carrying out operations in provinces along the border with Pakistan
- Both sides have reported heavy losses and issued conflicting death tolls
Here are the latest news, headlines and background on the reignited conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Friday February 27, 2026:
UN head Guterres calls ceasefire between Pakistan, Afghanistan
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres added his voice to those calling for a ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Friday.
Guterres “is deeply concerned by the escalation of violence we’re seeing between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the impact that violence is having on civilian populations,” his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
“He calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and he reiterates his call on the parties to resolve any differences through diplomacy,” Dujarric added.
Red Cross urges end to violence between Pakistan, Afghanistan
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) president called for “restraint and de-escalation” of the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said civilians must be protected and access to health care guaranteed.
“We are witnessing a profound escalation of hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Spoljaric said in a statement.
She said the violence harmed people who “already endured decades of conflict, displacement and loss.”
Is Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict the ‘new normal?’
The worst outbreak of fighting in decades comes as Pakistan accuses the Taliban of harboring militant groups. Without a clear path towards reconciliation, the threat of protracted violence looms.
Read more about how the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan started and why it expanded this week in this article from Haroon Janjua: Is Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict the ‘new normal?’
‘Afghan Taliban have essentially been spoiling for this fight’
Michael Semple of the Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen’s University in Belfast told DW the renewed fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan represents “a very serious escalation.”
“It comes on the back of the continuing insurgency inside Pakistan, which they obviously blame on the Afghan Taliban,” he said.
“When the [Pakistani] defense minister says, ‘We’re in effect in a state of war,’ it’s accurate,” Semple added.
“The Afghan Taliban have essentially been spoiling for this fight,” Semple told DW. ” To me, it seems absolutely clear that the Afghan Taliban have no intention of backing down.”
Asked how the two countries’ militaries compared, he said: “They each have the ability to do a lot of damage to the other. It’s hard to say that either of them has the decisive advantage which would allow them to end a war or score a victory over the other.
“If this escalates, it’s difficult to see how it de-escalates because neither side can actually win,” Semple concluded.
Have Taliban fighters shot down Pakistani F‑16 fighter jets?
Claim:In a video shared on X, a user claimed that Afghan defense forces shot down a US-made F‑16 fighter jet. The video shows a burning plane with debris and fire. The user wrote: “This is a Pakistani military F‑16, American-made, that Afghan defensive forces have shot down.” The video has more than 1.2 million views.
DW Fact check: Fake
There are visible discrepancies between the jet shown in the video and real F‑16 fighter jets. The size and color do not match photos of authentic F‑16 jets. A structural difference is visible at the bottom, near the exhaust. The viral video also shows a serial number, “85510,” on the tail. Our open-source research found that the Pakistan Air Force has no F‑16 with this number.
In the viral video, the same number appears on the aircraft’s body, whereas original F‑16s do not have serial numbers painted on their bodies. It looks like an old video has been manipulated. An AI-detection tool registered parts of the video as suspicious.
The F‑16 Fighting Falcon is one of the most advanced and capable combat aircraft in the Pakistan Air Force and a key element of its air power. In December 2025, the Trump administration confirmed that it was supporting Pakistan in modernizing these jets through a defense sale worth about $686 million (€581 million). Pakistan is believed to operate between 70 and 80 F‑16 jets.
Another image allegedly showing a downed Pakistani F‑16 jet has been circulating online since May 2025 and is unrelated to the current Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions.
Qataris, Saudis look to de-escalate Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict
Saudi Arabia and Qatar are working in tandem to “de-escalate” the conflict currently raging between Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to a source cited by France’s AFP news agency.
“Saudi Arabia, in coordination with Qatar, is making efforts to reduce tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” said the source, who spoke with AFP anonymously in order to discuss the sensitive matter.
Talks took place between Qatari and Afghan authorities Friday as well as between Saudi and Pakistani diplomats.
“Riyadh and Doha have been in contact at the highest levels with both sides, and we hope the confrontation will end as soon as possible,” AFP’s source said.
Qatar and Turkey brokered a previous temporary ceasefire between the neighbors in October, but it has so far failed to deliver a lasting peace.
Qatar and the Taliban have ties going back at least to 2013, when, with the blessing of then US President Barack Obama, they invited the Afghans to open a diplomatic and political post in Doha.
Saudi Arabia maintains close military ties with Pakistan, signing a mutual defense agreement with the nuclear-armed nation last year.
Afghan Taliban government calls for dialogue to end conflict
Afghanistan’s Taliban government on Friday said it wants to engage in dialogue to resolve its conflict with neighboring Pakistan.
“We have repeatedly emphasized a peaceful solution and still want the problem to be resolved through dialogue,” Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said during a press conference.
Mujahid’s remarks, delivered in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, came as Pakistan continued air operations.
“Still, right now,” claimed Mujahid, “Pakistani planes, reconnaissance aircraft, are flying over Afghanistan’s airspace.”
Pakistan announces strikes and casualty numbers
Pakistan says its military operations are moving ahead under the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The military on Friday said its airstrikes had targeted 22 Afghan military installations.
At least 12 Pakistani soldiers have been killed since Thursday night, according to Pakistan’s military, which also claimed to have killed 274 Taliban officials and militants during that time.
WATCH: Escalating border dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan
Pakistan has launched airstrikes against cities in Afghanistan, with the defense minister speaking of ‘open war’ between the neighbors. The Pakistani military released images of strikes it conducted in the Afghan capital, Kabul. Sources say the operation also included ground assaults on Taliban targets. Both sides have conducted attacks and reported a high number of casualties.
The latest flare‑up was sparked by what Islamabad described as an Afghan cross‑border attack in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border region. Tensions have long been high along the frontier, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of harboring militants who launch attacks inside its territory.
Why Pakistan is fighting the Taliban it once backed
Pakistan once hoped to have a friendly neighbor in Afghanistan. But it has been fighting the Taliban government it once backed.
And a shaky ceasefire between the sides is being complicated by another Taliban grouping.
FACT CHECK: Disinformation from both sides on social media
As fresh clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan fuel regional tensions, DW’s factchecking team has been tracking several cases of online disinformation from both countries. Here’s one example:
Claim: “A drone has struck a nuclear energy center in Islamabad,” according to a post on X (archived here) called “Islamabad Post” that looks like a genuine media account.
The post, which has been viewed over 300,000 times, is accompanied by an image of a nuclear explosion showing a mushroom cloud explosion. The post does not specify which nuclear energy center may have been affected.
DW Fact check: False
By carrying out a reverse-image search of the explosion, the picture can be tracked back to iStock, a provider of stock images by Getty Images. It was uploaded to iStock in 2018, so before the current conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Moreover, the claim of a major nuclear explosion in Islamabad is not supported by major, credible media outlets.
The claim’s source is also suspicious: the Islamabad Post X account portrays itself as “the voice of the region” and is verified. The account, however, only has roughly 7,000 followers. It presents a mix of news items and opinions, and has only been around since last year. Its posts are also not linked to a website where further information like sources can be gathered.
Russia urges immediate halt in border clashes
Russia— which has some leverage in both nations — called on Pakistan and Afghanistan to immediately cease the cross-border attacks and resolve their differences through diplomatic means, the country’s state-owned RIA news agency reported on Friday.
Moscow also said it was ready to mediate if invited by both sides.
“Of course, the direct military clashes that have taken place do not bode well. Therefore we hope that they will cease as soon as possible… Like everyone else, we are closely monitoring this situation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Peskov confirmed that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would visit Russia soon, without providing a date.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also expressed concern amid the escalating tensions.
“We call on our friends Afghanistan and Pakistan to abandon this dangerous confrontation and return to the negotiating table to resolve all differences through political and diplomatic means,” she wrote on Telegram.
VIDEO: Pakistan strikes Kabul as Afghan-Pakistan conflict reignites
Pakistan has launched airstrikes against cities in Afghanistan, with the defense minister speaking of “open war” between the neighbors. The Pakistani military released images of strikes it carried out in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
Sources say the operation also included ground assaults on Taliban targets. Both sides have conducted attacks and reported a high number of casualties.
The latest flare‑up was sparked by what Pakistan described as an Afghan cross‑border attack in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border region.
Tensions have long been high along the frontier, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of harboring militants who launch attacks inside its territory.
Pakistan says it downed Pakistani ‘terrorist’ drones
Islamabad said its anti-drone systems brought down small drones launched by Pakistani “terrorists” in Abbottabad, Swabi and Nowshera in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Seeming to reference Pakistani Taliban militants, Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said there had been “no damage to life” during the incident.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this entry previously said that it was Afghanistan which downed the drones. This has now been corrected and we apologize for the mistake.
MAP: Pakistan-Afghanistan clashes
- Pakistan has bombed major cities in Afghanistan, declaring an ‘open war’
- Afghanistan says it is carrying out operations in provinces along the border with Pakistan
- Both sides have reported heavy losses and issued conflicting death tolls
Here are the latest news, headlines and background on the reignited conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Friday February 27, 2026:
Here are the latest news, headlines and background on the reignited conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Friday February 27, 2026:
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres added his voice to those calling for a ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Friday.
Guterres “is deeply concerned by the escalation of violence we’re seeing between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the impact that violence is having on civilian populations,” his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
“He calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and he reiterates his call on the parties to resolve any differences through diplomacy,” Dujarric added.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres added his voice to those calling for a ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Friday.
Guterres “is deeply concerned by the escalation of violence we’re seeing between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the impact that violence is having on civilian populations,” his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
“He calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and he reiterates his call on the parties to resolve any differences through diplomacy,” Dujarric added.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) president called for “restraint and de-escalation” of the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said civilians must be protected and access to health care guaranteed.
“We are witnessing a profound escalation of hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Spoljaric said in a statement.
She said the violence harmed people who “already endured decades of conflict, displacement and loss.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) president called for “restraint and de-escalation” of the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said civilians must be protected and access to health care guaranteed.
“We are witnessing a profound escalation of hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Spoljaric said in a statement.
She said the violence harmed people who “already endured decades of conflict, displacement and loss.”
The worst outbreak of fighting in decades comes as Pakistan accuses the Taliban of harboring militant groups. Without a clear path towards reconciliation, the threat of protracted violence looms.
Read more about how the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan started and why it expanded this week in this article from Haroon Janjua: Is Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict the ‘new normal?’
The worst outbreak of fighting in decades comes as Pakistan accuses the Taliban of harboring militant groups. Without a clear path towards reconciliation, the threat of protracted violence looms.
Read more about how the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan started and why it expanded this week in this article from Haroon Janjua: Is Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict the ‘new normal?’
Michael Semple of the Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen’s University in Belfast told DW the renewed fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan represents “a very serious escalation.”
“It comes on the back of the continuing insurgency inside Pakistan, which they obviously blame on the Afghan Taliban,” he said.
“When the [Pakistani] defense minister says, ‘We’re in effect in a state of war,’ it’s accurate,” Semple added.
“The Afghan Taliban have essentially been spoiling for this fight,” Semple told DW. ” To me, it seems absolutely clear that the Afghan Taliban have no intention of backing down.”
Asked how the two countries’ militaries compared, he said: “They each have the ability to do a lot of damage to the other. It’s hard to say that either of them has the decisive advantage which would allow them to end a war or score a victory over the other.
“If this escalates, it’s difficult to see how it de-escalates because neither side can actually win,” Semple concluded.
Michael Semple of the Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen’s University in Belfast told DW the renewed fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan represents “a very serious escalation.”
“It comes on the back of the continuing insurgency inside Pakistan, which they obviously blame on the Afghan Taliban,” he said.
“When the [Pakistani] defense minister says, ‘We’re in effect in a state of war,’ it’s accurate,” Semple added.
“The Afghan Taliban have essentially been spoiling for this fight,” Semple told DW. ” To me, it seems absolutely clear that the Afghan Taliban have no intention of backing down.”
Asked how the two countries’ militaries compared, he said: “They each have the ability to do a lot of damage to the other. It’s hard to say that either of them has the decisive advantage which would allow them to end a war or score a victory over the other.
“If this escalates, it’s difficult to see how it de-escalates because neither side can actually win,” Semple concluded.
Claim:In a video shared on X, a user claimed that Afghan defense forces shot down a US-made F‑16 fighter jet. The video shows a burning plane with debris and fire. The user wrote: “This is a Pakistani military F‑16, American-made, that Afghan defensive forces have shot down.” The video has more than 1.2 million views.
DW Fact check: Fake
There are visible discrepancies between the jet shown in the video and real F‑16 fighter jets. The size and color do not match photos of authentic F‑16 jets. A structural difference is visible at the bottom, near the exhaust. The viral video also shows a serial number, “85510,” on the tail. Our open-source research found that the Pakistan Air Force has no F‑16 with this number.
In the viral video, the same number appears on the aircraft’s body, whereas original F‑16s do not have serial numbers painted on their bodies. It looks like an old video has been manipulated. An AI-detection tool registered parts of the video as suspicious.
The F‑16 Fighting Falcon is one of the most advanced and capable combat aircraft in the Pakistan Air Force and a key element of its air power. In December 2025, the Trump administration confirmed that it was supporting Pakistan in modernizing these jets through a defense sale worth about $686 million (€581 million). Pakistan is believed to operate between 70 and 80 F‑16 jets.
Another image allegedly showing a downed Pakistani F‑16 jet has been circulating online since May 2025 and is unrelated to the current Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions.
Claim:In a video shared on X, a user claimed that Afghan defense forces shot down a US-made F‑16 fighter jet. The video shows a burning plane with debris and fire. The user wrote: “This is a Pakistani military F‑16, American-made, that Afghan defensive forces have shot down.” The video has more than 1.2 million views.
DW Fact check: Fake
There are visible discrepancies between the jet shown in the video and real F‑16 fighter jets. The size and color do not match photos of authentic F‑16 jets. A structural difference is visible at the bottom, near the exhaust. The viral video also shows a serial number, “85510,” on the tail. Our open-source research found that the Pakistan Air Force has no F‑16 with this number.
In the viral video, the same number appears on the aircraft’s body, whereas original F‑16s do not have serial numbers painted on their bodies. It looks like an old video has been manipulated. An AI-detection tool registered parts of the video as suspicious.
The F‑16 Fighting Falcon is one of the most advanced and capable combat aircraft in the Pakistan Air Force and a key element of its air power. In December 2025, the Trump administration confirmed that it was supporting Pakistan in modernizing these jets through a defense sale worth about $686 million (€581 million). Pakistan is believed to operate between 70 and 80 F‑16 jets.
Another image allegedly showing a downed Pakistani F‑16 jet has been circulating online since May 2025 and is unrelated to the current Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar are working in tandem to “de-escalate” the conflict currently raging between Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to a source cited by France’s AFP news agency.
“Saudi Arabia, in coordination with Qatar, is making efforts to reduce tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” said the source, who spoke with AFP anonymously in order to discuss the sensitive matter.
Talks took place between Qatari and Afghan authorities Friday as well as between Saudi and Pakistani diplomats.
“Riyadh and Doha have been in contact at the highest levels with both sides, and we hope the confrontation will end as soon as possible,” AFP’s source said.
Qatar and Turkey brokered a previous temporary ceasefire between the neighbors in October, but it has so far failed to deliver a lasting peace.
Qatar and the Taliban have ties going back at least to 2013, when, with the blessing of then US President Barack Obama, they invited the Afghans to open a diplomatic and political post in Doha.
Saudi Arabia maintains close military ties with Pakistan, signing a mutual defense agreement with the nuclear-armed nation last year.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar are working in tandem to “de-escalate” the conflict currently raging between Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to a source cited by France’s AFP news agency.
“Saudi Arabia, in coordination with Qatar, is making efforts to reduce tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” said the source, who spoke with AFP anonymously in order to discuss the sensitive matter.
Talks took place between Qatari and Afghan authorities Friday as well as between Saudi and Pakistani diplomats.
“Riyadh and Doha have been in contact at the highest levels with both sides, and we hope the confrontation will end as soon as possible,” AFP’s source said.
Qatar and Turkey brokered a previous temporary ceasefire between the neighbors in October, but it has so far failed to deliver a lasting peace.
Qatar and the Taliban have ties going back at least to 2013, when, with the blessing of then US President Barack Obama, they invited the Afghans to open a diplomatic and political post in Doha.
Saudi Arabia maintains close military ties with Pakistan, signing a mutual defense agreement with the nuclear-armed nation last year.
Afghanistan’s Taliban government on Friday said it wants to engage in dialogue to resolve its conflict with neighboring Pakistan.
“We have repeatedly emphasized a peaceful solution and still want the problem to be resolved through dialogue,” Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said during a press conference.
Mujahid’s remarks, delivered in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, came as Pakistan continued air operations.
“Still, right now,” claimed Mujahid, “Pakistani planes, reconnaissance aircraft, are flying over Afghanistan’s airspace.”
Afghanistan’s Taliban government on Friday said it wants to engage in dialogue to resolve its conflict with neighboring Pakistan.
“We have repeatedly emphasized a peaceful solution and still want the problem to be resolved through dialogue,” Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said during a press conference.
Mujahid’s remarks, delivered in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, came as Pakistan continued air operations.
“Still, right now,” claimed Mujahid, “Pakistani planes, reconnaissance aircraft, are flying over Afghanistan’s airspace.”
Pakistan says its military operations are moving ahead under the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The military on Friday said its airstrikes had targeted 22 Afghan military installations.
At least 12 Pakistani soldiers have been killed since Thursday night, according to Pakistan’s military, which also claimed to have killed 274 Taliban officials and militants during that time.
Pakistan says its military operations are moving ahead under the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The military on Friday said its airstrikes had targeted 22 Afghan military installations.
At least 12 Pakistani soldiers have been killed since Thursday night, according to Pakistan’s military, which also claimed to have killed 274 Taliban officials and militants during that time.
Pakistan has launched airstrikes against cities in Afghanistan, with the defense minister speaking of ‘open war’ between the neighbors. The Pakistani military released images of strikes it conducted in the Afghan capital, Kabul. Sources say the operation also included ground assaults on Taliban targets. Both sides have conducted attacks and reported a high number of casualties.
The latest flare‑up was sparked by what Islamabad described as an Afghan cross‑border attack in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border region. Tensions have long been high along the frontier, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of harboring militants who launch attacks inside its territory.
Pakistan has launched airstrikes against cities in Afghanistan, with the defense minister speaking of ‘open war’ between the neighbors. The Pakistani military released images of strikes it conducted in the Afghan capital, Kabul. Sources say the operation also included ground assaults on Taliban targets. Both sides have conducted attacks and reported a high number of casualties.
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The latest flare‑up was sparked by what Islamabad described as an Afghan cross‑border attack in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border region. Tensions have long been high along the frontier, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of harboring militants who launch attacks inside its territory.
Pakistan once hoped to have a friendly neighbor in Afghanistan. But it has been fighting the Taliban government it once backed.
And a shaky ceasefire between the sides is being complicated by another Taliban grouping.
Pakistan once hoped to have a friendly neighbor in Afghanistan. But it has been fighting the Taliban government it once backed.
And a shaky ceasefire between the sides is being complicated by another Taliban grouping.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
As fresh clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan fuel regional tensions, DW’s factchecking team has been tracking several cases of online disinformation from both countries. Here’s one example:
Claim: “A drone has struck a nuclear energy center in Islamabad,” according to a post on X (archived here) called “Islamabad Post” that looks like a genuine media account.
The post, which has been viewed over 300,000 times, is accompanied by an image of a nuclear explosion showing a mushroom cloud explosion. The post does not specify which nuclear energy center may have been affected.
DW Fact check: False
By carrying out a reverse-image search of the explosion, the picture can be tracked back to iStock, a provider of stock images by Getty Images. It was uploaded to iStock in 2018, so before the current conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Moreover, the claim of a major nuclear explosion in Islamabad is not supported by major, credible media outlets.
The claim’s source is also suspicious: the Islamabad Post X account portrays itself as “the voice of the region” and is verified. The account, however, only has roughly 7,000 followers. It presents a mix of news items and opinions, and has only been around since last year. Its posts are also not linked to a website where further information like sources can be gathered.
As fresh clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan fuel regional tensions, DW’s factchecking team has been tracking several cases of online disinformation from both countries. Here’s one example:
Claim: “A drone has struck a nuclear energy center in Islamabad,” according to a post on X (archived here) called “Islamabad Post” that looks like a genuine media account.
The post, which has been viewed over 300,000 times, is accompanied by an image of a nuclear explosion showing a mushroom cloud explosion. The post does not specify which nuclear energy center may have been affected.
DW Fact check: False
By carrying out a reverse-image search of the explosion, the picture can be tracked back to iStock, a provider of stock images by Getty Images. It was uploaded to iStock in 2018, so before the current conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Moreover, the claim of a major nuclear explosion in Islamabad is not supported by major, credible media outlets.
The claim’s source is also suspicious: the Islamabad Post X account portrays itself as “the voice of the region” and is verified. The account, however, only has roughly 7,000 followers. It presents a mix of news items and opinions, and has only been around since last year. Its posts are also not linked to a website where further information like sources can be gathered.
Russia— which has some leverage in both nations — called on Pakistan and Afghanistan to immediately cease the cross-border attacks and resolve their differences through diplomatic means, the country’s state-owned RIA news agency reported on Friday.
Moscow also said it was ready to mediate if invited by both sides.
“Of course, the direct military clashes that have taken place do not bode well. Therefore we hope that they will cease as soon as possible… Like everyone else, we are closely monitoring this situation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Peskov confirmed that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would visit Russia soon, without providing a date.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also expressed concern amid the escalating tensions.
“We call on our friends Afghanistan and Pakistan to abandon this dangerous confrontation and return to the negotiating table to resolve all differences through political and diplomatic means,” she wrote on Telegram.
Russia— which has some leverage in both nations — called on Pakistan and Afghanistan to immediately cease the cross-border attacks and resolve their differences through diplomatic means, the country’s state-owned RIA news agency reported on Friday.
Moscow also said it was ready to mediate if invited by both sides.
“Of course, the direct military clashes that have taken place do not bode well. Therefore we hope that they will cease as soon as possible… Like everyone else, we are closely monitoring this situation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Peskov confirmed that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would visit Russia soon, without providing a date.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also expressed concern amid the escalating tensions.
“We call on our friends Afghanistan and Pakistan to abandon this dangerous confrontation and return to the negotiating table to resolve all differences through political and diplomatic means,” she wrote on Telegram.
Pakistan has launched airstrikes against cities in Afghanistan, with the defense minister speaking of “open war” between the neighbors. The Pakistani military released images of strikes it carried out in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
Sources say the operation also included ground assaults on Taliban targets. Both sides have conducted attacks and reported a high number of casualties.
The latest flare‑up was sparked by what Pakistan described as an Afghan cross‑border attack in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border region.
Tensions have long been high along the frontier, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of harboring militants who launch attacks inside its territory.
Pakistan has launched airstrikes against cities in Afghanistan, with the defense minister speaking of “open war” between the neighbors. The Pakistani military released images of strikes it carried out in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
Sources say the operation also included ground assaults on Taliban targets. Both sides have conducted attacks and reported a high number of casualties.
The latest flare‑up was sparked by what Pakistan described as an Afghan cross‑border attack in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border region.
Tensions have long been high along the frontier, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of harboring militants who launch attacks inside its territory.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Islamabad said its anti-drone systems brought down small drones launched by Pakistani “terrorists” in Abbottabad, Swabi and Nowshera in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Seeming to reference Pakistani Taliban militants, Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said there had been “no damage to life” during the incident.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this entry previously said that it was Afghanistan which downed the drones. This has now been corrected and we apologize for the mistake.
Islamabad said its anti-drone systems brought down small drones launched by Pakistani “terrorists” in Abbottabad, Swabi and Nowshera in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Seeming to reference Pakistani Taliban militants, Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said there had been “no damage to life” during the incident.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this entry previously said that it was Afghanistan which downed the drones. This has now been corrected and we apologize for the mistake.
[analyse_source url=”https://www.dw.com/en/pakistan-says-at-open-war-with-afghanistan-after-strikes/live-76144088″]