Islamabad, Feb 27 (.) United Nations officials have voiced concern over the escalating tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, calling for restraint and dialogue amid reports of deadly cross-border clashes and airstrikes.
António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, urged both sides to strictly adhere to their obligations under international law, with particular emphasis on international humanitarian law.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk also appealed for dialogue between Kabul and Islamabad, stressing the need to de-escalate tensions as violence along the border intensifies.
Amid the deteriorating situation, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud held a phone conversation with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, according to a statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
The two leaders discussed “developments in the region” and explored “ways to reduce tensions,” the statement said. Dar is currently in Saudi Arabia on an official visit.
Responding to a question about whether Beijing was considering evacuating Chinese nationals or suspending flights due to the clashes, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China is closely following the situation.
“We are closely following the development of the situation and will provide necessary assistance to Chinese nationals in need,” Mao said on Friday, without elaborating on specific measures.
The cross-border violence has raised concerns of broader regional instability, prompting diplomatic outreach and calls for immediate de-escalation.
Pakistani forces struck areas in Afghanistan’s Khost, Nangarhar, and Paktia provinces with air strikes as tensions between the two countries sharply escalated, with both sides claiming casualties and damage.
Amid the growing confrontation with Afghanistan’s Taliban government, Pakistan declared an “open war” and launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq (“Wrath of Justice”). State broadcaster PTV News reported that Pakistan’s armed forces carried out early-morning air strikes on Friday targeting what it described as key military installations in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia.
Both the Taliban government in Afghanistan and Pakistan claim to have inflicted heavy losses on each other.
According to Mosharraf Zaidi, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Pakistani strikes have destroyed 27 Afghan Taliban military posts and captured nine others. He also claimed that more than 80 tanks, artillery pieces, and armoured personnel carriers had been destroyed.
“Pakistan’s immediate and effective response to aggression continues,” he wrote on X. As in previous rounds of hostilities, both sides accused each other of initiating the attacks. Pakistani authorities said they launched “counter-strikes” on cities including Kabul and Kandahar in response to what they termed “unprovoked Afghan attacks.”
The Afghan Taliban, however, said it had launched a “large-scale” retaliatory operation in response to earlier Pakistani strikes this week, which it claimed killed at least 18 people. Islamabad maintained that its operations targeted alleged militant camps and hideouts.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan in a social media post on X said, “Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and exchanged views on recent regional developments, particularly the situation between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Afghan media reported that Pakistani attacks in Khost province left at least three people dead and several others injured. Rocket attacks were also reported in Nangarhar province, including a strike on a tent camp, though no casualties were confirmed there.
The escalation followed Afghanistan’s announcement of a large-scale military operation against Pakistani forces along the Durand Line, a 2,500-km border that Kabul does not formally recognise in response to alleged Pakistani air strikes on Afghan territory.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif described the situation as an “all-out confrontation,” warning that Pakistan’s patience had “reached its limit.” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the armed forces were capable of “crushing any aggressive ambitions,” while President Asif Ali Zardari stated that Pakistan would not compromise on its peace and territorial integrity.
. XC . PRS
