US Backs Islamabad’s Right to Strike in Afghanistan Amid Cross-Border Tensions

DID Press: Washington expressed support for Pakistan’s recent airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, asserting that Islamabad “has the right to act in self-defense against terrorist threats.”

The statement from the US State Department came in response to questions about operations targeting alleged hideouts of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and ISIS-K. A spokesperson emphasized years of suffering in Pakistan due to terrorism and urged the Taliban government to uphold international commitments by preventing Afghan territory from being used for militant attacks.

According to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the strikes, conducted between 12:15 a.m. Saturday and 1:15 a.m. Sunday, resulted in at least 13 civilian deaths, including women and children. Pakistani officials claim roughly 70 militants were killed in the operations.

India condemned the attacks as a violation of Afghan sovereignty and territorial integrity, highlighting civilian casualties during Ramadan and accusing Islamabad of seeking to distract public attention from domestic issues.