Washington: The United States has affirmed Pakistan’s right to self-defense against Taliban attacks, as border fighting between Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban intensified. President Donald Trump praised Pakistan’s leadership, while a State Department spokesperson told IANS that Washington stands behind Pakistan’s security measures.
“I get along with Pakistan, as you know very well. Very, very well,” Trump told reporters before boarding Marine One.
He lauded key figures: “You have a great prime minister. You have a great general there. You have a great leader that...I think two of the people that I really respect a lot. And I think that Pakistan is doing terrifically well.”
Trump’s comments arrived amid reports of renewed violence along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, fueling fears of regional instability.
A State Department spokesperson informed IANS that the U.S. is monitoring developments closely.
“We are aware of the recent escalation in tensions and outbreak of fighting between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban, and we are saddened by the loss of life,” the spokesperson stated.
The U.S. firmly endorsed Pakistan’s response. “The United States supports Pakistan’s right to defend itself against attacks from the Taliban, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group.”
The spokesperson condemned the Taliban’s record. “The Taliban have consistently failed to uphold their counterterrorism commitments, allowing violence to destabilise the region while terrorist groups use Afghanistan as a launching pad for their heinous attacks.”
Trump offered no new specific actions in his remarks. Still, his endorsement of Pakistan’s leaders, paired with the State Department’s position, underscores ongoing U.S. support for Islamabad during this tense period.
Pakistan and Afghanistan share a lengthy, porous border plagued by recurring clashes. Islamabad blames militant groups based in Afghanistan for cross-border strikes, while Taliban rulers in Kabul reject claims of harboring attackers aimed at neighbors.
India keeps a watchful eye on the Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier. Regional unrest affects counterterrorism initiatives and broader South Asian security dynamics. New Delhi has repeatedly flagged threats from Afghan-based terrorists and called for full compliance with global counterterrorism obligations.