Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif talking to Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir during a GHQ visit to Rawalpindi.
ISLAMABAD:
Friendly nations and global leaders called for calm between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Friday after overnight border clashes and Pakistan’s punitive retaliation against Kabul that killed hundreds of Taliban operatives and destroyed several of their checkpoints.
Top diplomats from several countries took to social media to call for restraint, dialogue and adherence to international law, while Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reached out to his counterparts from key regional partners to brief them on the evolving situation.
Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab Lil Haq soon after the Taliban attacked Pakistani positions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in several places. In retaliation, the troops repulsed the Taliban attackers and later Pakistan Air Force (PAF) blitzkrieg struck and destroyed several targets.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had a phone call with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, stressing that Pakistan’s response to unprovoked Afghan aggression had been “measured but decisive”.
He said that the Pakistan Armed Forces carried out a successful action during Operation Ghazab Lil Haq to protect the territorial integrity of the country. Both sides stressed the importance of peace and stability in the wider region and agreed to remain in close contact as developments unfold.
A similar message was conveyed to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the two discussed “developments in the region and ways to reduce tensions” while protecting security and stability.
Turkey also stepped in diplomatically. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the conflict with Dar, a Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters. The foreign ministry said Dar stressed that Islamabad had responded “appropriately” to unprovoked aggression.
Global powers, including Russia and China, were increasingly focused on preventing further escalation. Russia called on both sides to immediately stop cross-border attacks and resolve differences through diplomatic means.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow was concerned by the “unusual and rapid escalation” involving regular military units, fighter jets and heavy weapons. She called for a return to talks and said Russia would consider mediation if requested.
Iran has also offered to facilitate dialogue. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was ready to provide any necessary assistance “to facilitate dialogue and increase understanding and cooperation” between Islamabad and Kabul, according to AFP.
From Beijing, China expressed deep concern over the intensity of the clashes. Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said the current round of fighting exceeded previous incidents and warned that continued escalation would harm both sides.
She confirmed that China was mediating through its own channels and was willing to play a constructive role in de-escalation, while urging both countries to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and projects.
At the UN, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is monitoring the situation closely. His spokesman said he called on both countries to fulfill their obligations under international law, particularly international humanitarian law, and to prioritize the protection of civilians.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk also called for urgent political dialogue, warning that escalating force would only worsen the crisis. UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett also appealed for calm.
Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, called for respect for international human rights and humanitarian law and stressed that immediate de-escalation was essential as tensions turned violent.
Britain joined the growing list of worried capitals. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said London was “deeply concerned by the significant escalation” and urged both sides to take immediate steps towards de-escalation and re-engage in mediated dialogue.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed regret for the loss of life and called for maximum restraint. He said Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns needed to be addressed, adding that reconciliation could only be achieved at the negotiating table.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Qatar took the lead in efforts to end deadly fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan, a source familiar with the talks told AFP on Friday.
“Saudi Arabia, in coordination with Qatar, is making efforts to reduce tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” the source said, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive issues.
The aim is to “de-escalate the situation and prevent it from spiraling out of control,” they added.
On Friday, Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi called Qatar’s chief negotiator Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, Doha said.
“Riyadh and Doha have been in contact at the highest level with both sides and we hope that the confrontation will end as soon as possible,” the source added.
(WITH ENTRY FROM AGENCIES)
