US President praises Pakistan’s leadership as cross-border strikes intensify and global powers urge restraint
US President Donald Trump has declined to directly intervene in the escalating conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, even as he praised Islamabad’s top leadership in remarks that signalled a diplomatic tilt towards Pakistan.
Responding to questions about the recent strikes on Afghanistan, Trump commended Pakistan’s military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “I would (intervene), but you have a great prime minister, you have a great general there, you have a great leader. I think two of the people that I really respect a lot. I think Pakistan is doing terrifically well,” he told reporters.
Trump’s comments came amid a sharp escalation in hostilities. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared a state of “open war” with Afghanistan after tensions flared earlier in the week. Islamabad claimed its forces had carried out aerial strikes on 29 locations across Afghanistan, including in Kandahar and Kabul.
A Pakistani government spokesperson said that 297 Afghan Taliban fighters and militants were killed in the strikes. However, Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid countered that Afghan forces had killed 55 Pakistani soldiers and captured several others.
The attacks are described as the most significant by Pakistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021 following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Hours after the strikes, Sharif asserted that Pakistan’s armed forces were fully capable of repelling any aggression. “Our forces have the full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan armed forces,” he said.
A spokesperson for the US State Department said Washington supports Pakistan’s “right to defend itself” against Taliban attacks, while also criticising the Taliban’s counterterrorism record. The spokesperson stated that the Taliban had “consistently failed to uphold their counterterrorism commitments,” allowing violence to destabilise the region and enabling terrorist groups to use Afghan territory as a launchpad for attacks.
International reactions have been swift. Britain called for de-escalation, China urged a ceasefire, and Iran offered to mediate between the two sides.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy and Consulates in Pakistan issued an advisory to American citizens, warning that law enforcement facilities, military installations and major commercial centres could be potential targets for terrorist organisations. Citizens were urged to exercise caution, particularly during peak hours.
Trump’s remarks also mark a shift in tone from US-Pakistan relations during the tenure of former US President Joe Biden. Since returning to office for a second term, Trump has recalibrated Washington’s engagement with Islamabad. Pakistan has frequently praised Trump’s mediation efforts in past conflicts and has publicly stated that he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize.
While Pakistan remains a major non-NATO ally of the United States, the Afghan Taliban continues to be designated as a terrorist group by Washington, underscoring the complexity of the evolving regional crisis.
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