Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers said they were willing to negotiate with Pakistan after Islamabad launched airstrikes on major Afghan cities, marking a sharp escalation in hostilities between the neighboring countries.
Pakistan struck Kabul and Kandahar, the Taliban’s southern power base, as well as several eastern provinces, in what Afghan officials described as the first direct targeting of Afghanistan’s government over allegations it harbors militants seeking to destabilize Pakistan.
Heavy fighting continued along the 2,600-kilometer frontier as both sides reported significant casualties, though the figures could not be independently verified.
The latest violence followed Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory last weekend that triggered Afghan drone attacks on Pakistani military positions late Thursday.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani strikes hit parts of Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia on Thursday night, and Paktia, Paktika, Khost and Laghman on Friday.
In Kabul, thick plumes of smoke rose from two sites as ambulance sirens sounded after loud blasts and the roar of jets overhead.
A Kabul taxi driver, Tamim, described bombs striking an ammunition depot, with secondary explosions igniting stored ordnance.
Pakistan’s military said its air and ground operations killed at least 274 Afghan fighters, while confirming 12 of its own soldiers were killed and others wounded.
Afghan officials rejected claims of high losses, saying 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, along with 13 Afghan fighters and at least 19 civilians in Khost and Paktika.
Pakistan’s defense minister declared the situation an “open war,” warning of further action.
Despite the intensifying clashes, the Taliban signaled openness to dialogue.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has always tried to resolve issues through dialogue, and now also we want to resolve this matter through dialogue,” Mujahid said.
The United Nations secretary-general said he was deeply concerned by the escalation and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
The United States expressed support for Pakistan’s right to defend itself against attacks from the Taliban.
Qatar, which previously helped broker a ceasefire, said it was working with other nations to help resolve the crisis.
Russia, Iran and Iraq also called for an end to the fighting as fears mounted of a prolonged conflict along the border.