US backs Pakistan's right to defend itself against terrorist attacks

The U.S. State Department has said that Washington supports Pakistan's right to defend itself against terrorist attacks. The statement came as intermittent conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan continued along their shared border. It followed cross-border incursions by both countries after a militant attack killed three Pakistani paramilitary troops in Karachi.

What did the U.S. State Department say about Pakistan's right to defend itself?

The State Department said Washington supports Pakistan's right to defend itself against terrorist attacks. It added that the Pakistani people have suffered greatly at the hands of terrorists, according to Reuters. The remarks followed an attack in Karachi and a wider surge in cross-border tension with Afghanistan.

What happened in the Karachi attack?

The attack that killed three paramilitary troops in Karachi was claimed by Jamaatul Ahrar, a faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). It came amid a broader rise in militancy across Pakistan in recent years. That surge has triggered repeated skirmishes with Afghanistan since February.

How have Pakistan and Afghanistan clashed at the border?

The United Nations said on Monday that at least 28 civilians were killed and 49 injured in Pakistani airstrikes near the Afghan border. Afghanistan's Taliban said later in the week that they had launched airstrikes into Pakistani territory in response. Islamabad said its forces intercepted and shot down four rudimentary drones in Balochistan.

Pakistan is nuclear-armed and holds far superior military capability compared with Afghanistan. However, the Afghan Taliban are experienced in guerrilla warfare, hardened by decades of fighting U.S.-led forces before returning to power in 2021 when Washington withdrew.

Why does Washington support Pakistan against terrorism?

Pakistan is a major non-NATO ally of the United States, and ties between the two countries have improved since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. Pakistan has also served as a mediator in efforts to resolve the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Washington considers the Afghan Taliban, who now govern Afghanistan, to be a terrorist group.

What does Afghanistan's Taliban say about the accusations?

Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants it blames for plotting attacks inside Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban deny these accusations and argue that militancy is Pakistan's internal problem. They say Islamabad is deflecting blame for its own security failures.