Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government has expressed willingness to pursue dialogue with Pakistan to resolve the ongoing conflict, its spokesperson said on Friday, even as clashes along the shared border intensified.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in a press briefing that the group still wants the dispute to be resolved through talks, despite heavy fighting and losses sustained during recent exchanges of fire with Pakistani forces.
The remarks come amid renewed hostilities between the two neighbours, triggered by cross-border exchanges of artillery and small arms fire. Pakistani strikes inside Afghan territory have reportedly caused significant damage to Taliban positions, prompting the latest call for diplomacy from Kabul.
Officials in Islamabad have described the military operations as a response to what they call unprovoked attacks by Afghan forces, asserting that Pakistan’s actions are aimed at safeguarding its territorial integrity. Pakistani authorities say their forces inflicted substantial losses on Taliban fighters during the operations, though casualty figures cannot be independently verified.
The situation along the 2,600-km Durand Line, the disputed border between the two countries, remains tense, with both sides trading accusations of aggression. Taliban officials have emphasised their preference for negotiation, but also warned that continued military action will elicit firm responses. There has been no official comment from the Pakistani government on the Taliban’s proposal for dialogue. International actors, including Russia and other regional powers, have also urged restraint and called for diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation