US President Donald Trump praised Pakistan’s handling of regional security as tensions with the Afghan Taliban sharply intensified along the volatile frontier.
Speaking about the growing crisis, Trump said Pakistan is managing the situation “terrifically well” despite brutal cross-border clashes. He also hinted that the United States could consider involvement if formally requested, underscoring Pakistan’s strategic importance in South Asia.
The remarks came as Pakistan’s military launched heavy strikes inside Afghan territory. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that the operations specifically targeted militant strongholds rather than civilian areas. He said several bases near highly secured zones of Kabul were destroyed as part of an aggressive campaign to eliminate threats against Pakistan’s security.
Afghan authorities, however, described a different picture. Reports from across the border alleged intense skirmishes in sensitive regions such as Khyber and Chitral, with militants firing across the frontier and Pakistani forces responding with force. Afghan officials claimed civilian casualties occurred in Nangarhar province, further escalating tensions between the two countries.
Military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said 274 Afghan fighters were killed and over 400 injured during the operations. Afghan officials rejected those figures, alleging that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 19 positions captured. Both sides’ casualty claims remain unverified, leaving the full extent of losses unclear.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry imposed an immediate nationwide ban on outdoor drone flights, citing security concerns and risks of surveillance amid the crisis. Reports also suggest that several Afghan checkpoints near the Arandu border were reduced to rubble during the strikes.
As diplomatic channels grow increasingly fragile, global attention remains fixed on Islamabad and Kabul. Trump’s comments have added an international dimension to an already volatile situation, intensifying scrutiny over how the crisis may unfold in the coming days.
