"We continue to monitor the situation closely and express support for Pakistan's right to self-defense against attacks from the Taliban," Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Allison Hooker wrote on social media on 27/2 following talks with her Pakistani counterpart. Hooker also conveyed the US's condolences to Pakistani Foreign Minister Amna Baloch for the casualties in the newly erupted conflict but did not call for an end to hostilities.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Allison Hooker at an event in Washington on 3/2. *Photo: AFP*

On the same day, the US Department of State accused the Taliban of "not adhering to counter-terrorism commitments," stating that "terrorist groups have used Afghanistan as a launchpad to carry out brutal attacks." Pakistan is considered an important US ally in the region, while Washington still regards the Taliban as a terrorist organization.

The Pakistani military launched "unrestricted warfare" against Afghanistan on 27/2, conducting airstrikes targeting Kabul and other areas in the neighboring country. This action was in retaliation for an attack initiated by the Taliban on the morning of 26/2. Islamabad claimed to have killed over 270 Taliban gunmen in Afghanistan, while Kabul reported that 55 Pakistani soldiers died during the conflict.

The current conflict escalated after the Pakistani military last weekend attacked positions of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, and a group affiliated with the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) group on Afghan territory. Islamabad claimed to have killed over 70 gunmen in that initial strike. In response, the Taliban stated that many civilians had died and launched retaliatory attacks targeting Pakistan on the morning of 26/2, which then prompted Pakistan's large-scale airstrikes.

Military balance of power between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Click on the image for full details

Pakistani military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated that their forces conducted airstrikes on 22 military targets in Afghanistan, killing 274 Taliban officials and gunmen. He added that at least 12 Pakistani soldiers died. Meanwhile, Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said Afghan forces killed 55 Pakistani soldiers and captured 19 military outposts. He also reported that 13 Taliban gunmen died and 12 were wounded during the two-hour retaliatory operations.

Thanh Tam (AFP, Reuters)