Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, has expressed concern over escalating tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Zakharova urged both Pakistan and the Taliban to “show restraint” and resolve their disputes through dialogue.
In a statement published on Saturday on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website, Zakharova noted, “Moscow is concerned over the escalation of tensions on the Pakistani-Afghan border, where not only the military but also civilians perish in shootouts.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry has called for a “constructive dialogue” between the Taliban and Pakistan to address their differences peacefully.
The statement coincides with the Taliban Ministry of Defence’s announcement of retaliatory attacks, conducted three days after Pakistani airstrikes targeted areas in Afghanistan’s Paktika province.
While the Taliban did not explicitly name Pakistan, their Ministry of Defence claimed that the retaliatory strikes occurred “beyond the Durand Line,” the term commonly used by Taliban officials to describe the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
The Taliban’s retaliation follows Pakistan’s airstrikes on Tuesday evening in Barmal district, Paktika province. According to Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s spokesperson, at least 46 people, including women and children, were killed in the bombings, which targeted four locations.
After the airstrikes, the Taliban Ministry of Defence had pledged that the attacks would not go unanswered.
