Trump Stays Neutral on Pak-Afghan Tensions

• US says it supports Pakistan’s ‘right to defend itself’ against Afghan Taliban
• Taliban breached Doha Agreement by sheltering militants, says Pakistan
• Pakistan destroys ‘New Afghan 8’, Ariana Complex, Chitral posts, forces enemy retreat

WASHINGTON-(Mudassar Iqbal/Web Desk/News Desk)- Responding to a question about whether the United States would step into a potential conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, US President Donald Trump said he could intervene if necessary but emphasized that he shares strong ties with Pakistan.

The US president noted that he maintains “very good relations” with the country and expressed admiration for its leadership. Trump described Pakistan as being led by a “great prime minister” and a “great general,” referring to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, both of whom he said he respects greatly.

While leaving the possibility of intervention open, Trump signaled that Washington currently has no intention of interfering, adding that he believes Pakistan is progressing strongly under its present leadership.

“Well, I would, but I get along with Pakistan very well — very, very well,” Trump told reporters. “You have a great prime minister, a great general — two people I truly respect.”

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The United States said on Friday it supported Pakistan’s “right to defend itself” against attacks from Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers after Islamabad said earlier in the day that the neighbouring countries were in “open war.”

Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers had said on Friday they were willing to negotiate after Pakistan bombed their forces in major cities.

“The United States supports Pakistan’s right to defend itself against attacks from the Taliban, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group,” a State Department spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

The State Department spokesperson said Washington was aware of the escalation in tensions and “outbreak of fighting between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban,” adding the US was “saddened by the loss of life.”

“The Taliban have consistently failed to uphold their counterterrorism commitments,” the State Department said, adding that “terrorist groups use Afghanistan as a launching pad for their heinous attacks.

Pakistan Launches Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq, Kills 133 Afghan Taliban Fighters

The Prime Minister’s spokesperson for Foreign Media, Mosharraf Zaidi, has said Afghan Taliban authorities had allowed militant groups to operate from their soil by providing what he described as safe havens.

Talking to the foreign media, he argued that the alleged patronage of such groups by Taliban leadership constituted a breach of commitments made under the Doha Agreement.

Zaidi maintained that Pakistan’s actions are focused squarely on protecting its citizens and safeguarding national defence. He said the Taliban leadership had failed to exercise effective control over armed factions operating within Afghanistan.

He stressed that Kabul would need to restore international confidence by demonstrating, in practical terms, that it stands against militant organisations rather than enabling them.

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While, Security sources early on Saturday said the Pakistan Army destroyed several Afghan Taliban positions, including the Afghan Golf and Delta posts in the Zaoba sector, as part of ongoing retaliatory action along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

According to officials, the “New Afghan 8” post was also destroyed, forcing enemy personnel to flee. An Afghan Taliban vehicle was targeted near the South Complex in the same area.

Security sources said positions at the Ariana Complex, Dabgai check post, Afghan police headquarters, and Zakarkhel post were struck during the operation.

Moreover, the Afghan Taliban’s Kandaksy post in the Chitral sector was severely damaged, while the Khyber post was also destroyed, and enemy positions suffered heavy damage, according to sources.

Afghan Taliban’s Omari camp and a post in the Noshki sector were also heavily damaged, they said, adding that Taliban forces also suffered significant losses in the response.

Officials claimed Pakistani forces compelled Afghan Taliban personnel to abandon their check posts and retreat.

They added that the action would continue until its objectives were achieved, stressing that the armed forces were responding across all fronts to safeguard national security.