Amid the escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as Pakistan declared an “open war” against the latter, the US has come out in support of Islamabad, saying the country “supports Pakistan’s right to defend itself against attacks from the Taliban”
US diplomat Allison Hooker said in a social media post that she spoke on Friday with Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch. “We continue to monitor the situation closely and expressed support for Pakistan’s right to defend itself against Taliban attacks,” she wrote.
The remarks come after US President Donald Trump praised the top Pakistani leadership, including Pakistan Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“I would (intervene). But I get along with Pakistan very, very well. They have a great prime minister, a great General. They have a great leader. They are two of the people that I really respect a lot. Pakistan is doing terrifically well,” Trump had said when asked by reporters if he would be willing to mediate.
The Taliban rulers have already expressed a willingness to resolve issues through dialogue.
The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, meanwhile, expressed concern over the escalation of violence between the two countries and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
The UN chief is “deeply concerned by the escalation of violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the impact that the violence is having on civilian populations. He calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and he reiterates his call on the parties to resolve any differences through diplomacy,” Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said at the daily press briefing.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has also called for de-escalation, saying, “The EU reiterates that Afghan territory must not be used to threaten or attack other countries and calls on the Afghan de facto authorities to take effective action against all terrorist groups operating in or from Afghanistan.”
