The Afghan Taliban regime on Friday said it was willing to negotiate peace with Pakistan after Islamabad conducted airstrikes on major Afghan cities in what Defense Minister Khawaja Asif described as an “open war.”
On Thursday evening, the Afghan Taliban launched what they described as “retaliatory attacks” over last week’s strikes targeting terrorist hideouts inside Afghanistan. Islamabad, according to Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, repulsed all the attacks and launched airstrikes aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure being used against Pakistan.
“Afghanistan has always preferred to resolve issues based on mutual understanding and respect,” the Afghan foreign ministry quoted Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi as conveying to Qatar’s junior Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khalifi during a telephone call amidst the conflict. This was echoed by Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, who said the Afghan Taliban regime wanted to “resolve this matter through dialogue” rather than continuing with the aggression.
The statements preceded a list of updated casualty figures from Pakistan’s information ministry. Posting on X, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said 331 personnel of the Afghan Taliban and terrorists had been killed so far, while more than 500 others were injured. He further said 104 checkposts had been destroyed and 22 captures. Additionally, he said, 163 tanks and armored vehicles had been destroyed. In total, he said, Pakistan had targeted 37 locations across Afghanistan with airstrikes.
The ongoing conflict has prompted several regional powers to call for de-escalation. In a statement on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi offered to mediate between the neighboring nations, both of which it shares borders with.
Similarly, according to the AFP news agency, both Saudi Arabia and Qatar have attempted to negotiate a halt to the hostilities. Turkiye, which had helped mediate a previous ceasefire, has also initiated contacts with all stakeholders, while China has expressed deep concerns and offered mediation efforts.
“China supports combating all forms of terrorism and calls on both parties to remain calm and exercise restraint, properly resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation, achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible, and avoid further loss of life,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, urging both sides to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and projects.
Moscow has similarly called for an end to all hostilities, describing them as a dangerous development.
The U.S., meanwhile, has come out in apparent support of Pakistan’s operations. In a statement, a State Department spokesman has said Washington supports Islamabad’s right to defend itself against attacks from the Taliban. Similarly, U.S. diplomat Allison Hooker wrote on X that she had spoken with Pakistan Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch on the escalating tensions.
“We continue to monitor the situation closely and expressed support for Pakistan’s right to defend itself against Taliban attacks,” she said. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated an unwillingness to step in and negotiate peace, saying he thought “Pakistan is doing terrifically well.”