Russia, China, Iran urge restraint as Pakistan strikes Afghanistan

Russia, China,Turkey and Iran called for restraint and dialogue on Friday as the airstrike escalated between Pakistan and Afghanistan following Pakistani airstrikes and the seizure of border posts.

Russia urged both sides to immediately halt cross-border attacks and resolve their differences through diplomatic means, the RIA news agency reported, citing the foreign ministry. The ministry said Moscow would consider providing mediation if requested by both parties.

Iran offered to help “facilitate dialogue” after Islamabad declared “open war” on the Taliban government and carried out airstrikes on Kabul following border clashes.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready to provide any assistance necessary to facilitate dialogue and to enhance understanding and cooperation between the two countries,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X.

China said it was “deeply concerned” by the fighting and called for a ceasefire.

China “calls on both sides to remain calm and exercise restraint… achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible, and avoid further bloodshed”, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing.

The foreign ministry and China’s embassies in Pakistan and Afghanistan were “working with relevant parties in both countries on this matter”, she added.

Turkey called Pakistan and Afghanistan on negotiation table. Turkish Foreign ‌Minister Hakan ⁠Fidan ​discussed ​the conflict between ‌Afghanistan ​and Pakistan ⁠in separate calls ‌on ⁠Friday with ⁠counterparts ​from Pakistan, ‌Afghanistan, Qatar, and ⁠Saudi ⁠Arabia, a Turkish diplomatic source said.

Read: Afghan Taliban suffer ‘heavy losses’ as Pakistani military launches ‘Operation Ghazab Lil Haq’

Security sources said Pakistani forces had targeted key military installations of the Afghan Taliban regime in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia through airstrikes early Friday.

Pakistan also took control of five Afghan posts in the Paktia region, opposite South Waziristan, and raised the Pakistani flag, security sources said. Two posts were located in Shawal, two in Angoor Adda and one in Zarmelan.

The Pakistan Army destroyed the Afghan terminal at Angoor Adda, while the Afghan Charlie post and the Afghan Babri post were also destroyed, according to security sources.

The Pakistan Air Force launched airstrikes under “Operation Ghazab Lil Haq”, targeting militant infrastructure in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, security sources said.

During the latest operations, two brigade headquarters in Kabul were destroyed, security sources added. The Pakistan Army also destroyed the Afghan Taliban’s core headquarters in Kandahar.