The United States said on Friday it supported Pakistan's "right to defend itself" against attacks from Afghanistan's Taliban rulers after Islamabad said earlier in the day that the neighboring countries were in "open war." ADVERTISEMENT"The United States supports Pakistan's right to defend itself against attacks from the Taliban, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group," a State Department spokesperson said in an emailed statement. The U.S. considers the Afghan Taliban to be a "terrorist" group. The latest violence erupted after Pakistan's airstrikes on Afghan territory last weekend triggered Afghan retaliatory attacks along the border on Thursday, escalating long-simmering tensions over Pakistan's claim that Afghanistan shelters Pakistani Taliban militants. Both sides reported heavy losses in the fighting, which Pakistan's Defense Minister Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said amounted to an "open war".

Source: The Telegraph February 28, 2026 05:15 UTC