Russia calls for restraint amid clashes on the Pakistan-Afghan border Taliban news

Moscow, which seeks to increase its influence in Afghanistan, says it welcomes stability along the border.

Russia has urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to show restraint after deadly fighting broke out along the border for two days, killing dozens and halting bilateral trade in what amounted to the worst clashes in recent memory.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday that it was closely following the events and that “the situation is stabilizing.” Similar statements From China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The ministry added: “We welcome this process.”

Tensions escalated on Thursday when the Taliban attacked Pakistan accused Due to explosions in Kabul and eastern Paktika province.

Two days later, on Saturday night, Taliban forces attacked various Pakistani military sites. As Pakistani forces responded, the two sides exchanged weapons, artillery and drone fire until early Sunday morning, and scattered clashes occurred throughout the day.

Both sides reported conflicting numbers of deaths. The Pakistani army said that 23 of its soldiers were killed and claimed to have killed 200 Taliban and affiliated fighters, while Afghanistan said that its forces killed 58 Pakistani soldiers.

By Monday, Pakistani forces were on high alert along the closed border with Afghanistan, where hundreds of people and trucks loaded with goods remained stranded.

Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs He said She “very much values ​​dialogue and diplomacy,” but warned that “any further provocations will be met with a consistent and appropriate response.”

Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021. Islamabad has since accused the Taliban of allowing the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, to operate within the Afghan border – something Kabul denies.

Meanwhile, Russia has sought to consolidate its influence in Afghanistan since the withdrawal of US forces led to the rise of the Taliban.

In 2022 and 2024, a Taliban delegation attended the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the Taliban as “allies in the fight against terrorism” – that is, the ISIS-K branch, which has claimed responsibility for attacks in Russia, Afghanistan, Iran and elsewhere.

In July, it became Russia The first country in the world to officially recognize it The Taliban government, a decision that the Foreign Ministry said would “give momentum to the development of fruitful bilateral cooperation between our two countries in various fields.”