Key facts
- The U.S. State Department supports Pakistan's right to defend itself against terrorist attacks.
- The U.S. considers the Afghan Taliban a terrorist group.
- Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants responsible for attacks within Pakistan.
- The Afghan Taliban deny these accusations.
- At least 28 civilians were killed and 49 injured in Pakistani airstrikes on the Afghan border, according to the UN.
The U.S. State Department affirmed its support for Pakistan's right to defend itself against terrorist attacks amid ongoing conflict with neighboring Afghanistan. The State Department noted that the Pakistani people have endured significant suffering due to terrorism.
Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been strained, with their worst battle in years occurring in February. The United Nations reported that at least 28 civilians were killed and 49 injured in Pakistani airstrikes along the border with Afghanistan. In response, Afghanistan's Taliban claimed to have conducted airstrikes into Pakistani territory. Islamabad stated that its forces intercepted and shot down four rudimentary drones in the Balochistan province.
While Pakistan possesses superior military capabilities as a nuclear-armed nation, the Afghan Taliban, who govern Afghanistan, are experienced in guerrilla warfare, having fought U.S.-led forces for decades before returning to power in 2021. Washington designates the Afghan Taliban as a terrorist group. Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants responsible for attacks within Pakistan, a claim the Afghan Taliban deny, asserting that militancy is an internal Pakistani issue and that Islamabad is deflecting blame for its own security failures.
Pakistan is a significant non-NATO ally of the United States, and ties between Washington and Islamabad have improved since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. Pakistan has also played a role as a mediator in efforts to resolve the conflict between the U.S. and Iran.