Pakistan says no dialogue' with Afghanistan as attacks persist

"There won't be any talks. There's no dialogue. There's no negotiation. Terrorism from Afghanistan has to end, the Pakistani prime minister's spokesperson for foreign media, Mosharraf Zaidi, told Pakistan TV, stressing that Pakistan's responsibility was to protect its citizens and territory."

"The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged on Saturday for the countries to bring down the temperature and enter talks, warning the violence could affect the wider region. Iran, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Russia, as well as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, also urged de-escalation and mediation."

"The latest violence erupted after Pakistani air strikes on Afghan territory last weekend triggered retaliatory Afghan attacks stretching across six Pakistani districts on Thursday. In response, Pakistan carried out widespread aerial attacks in the early hours of Friday on the Afghan capital."

Pakistan and Afghanistan experienced a significant military escalation spanning three days, marked by reciprocal drone strikes and aerial attacks near their shared border. A drone strike hit a mosque in Bannu, Pakistan, injuring at least five people. The conflict intensified after Pakistani air strikes on Afghan territory triggered Taliban retaliatory attacks across six Pakistani districts, followed by widespread Pakistani aerial bombardment. International actors including the European Union, Iran, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged de-escalation and negotiations. While Afghanistan's Taliban government expressed openness to dialogue, Pakistan rejected negotiations, demanding Afghanistan cease harboring terrorist organizations. Pakistan emphasized its responsibility to protect its citizens and territory amid the ongoing violence.

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