Pakistan‑Afghanistan border clashes spark US backing for Pakistan's self‑defence

The U.S. State Department said Washington “supports Pakistan’s right to defend itself against terrorist attacks” as cross‑border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan intensified. The violence, which surged in February, has involved sporadic air strikes and drone operations.

The United Nations reported that at least 28 civilians were killed and 49 injured in Pakistani air strikes on Afghan provinces near the border. The de‑facto Taliban government in Afghanistan said it launched drone strikes against Islamic State Khorasan targets inside Pakistan, while Pakistan claimed its air‑defence system shot down four rudimentary drones.

Pakistan, a nuclear‑armed ally of the United States outside NATO, has long been a key partner in Washington’s regional strategy. The U.S. continues to label the Afghan Taliban a terrorist organization, and both sides accuse each other of sheltering extremist groups.