WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD: The United States has officially conveyed condolences to Pakistan for the lives lost in the ongoing conflict with the Taliban, while affirming support for Islamabad’s right to defend itself against cross-border attacks.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), US Under Secretary of State Allison Hooker revealed that she spoke with Pakistan Foreign Secretary Baloch to discuss the escalating situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
“Spoke today with Pakistan Foreign Secretary Baloch to express condolences for lives lost in the recent conflict between Pakistan and the Taliban,” Hooker wrote in her official statement.
The Under Secretary further noted that the United States is closely monitoring developments in the region. “We continue to monitor the situation closely and expressed support for Pakistan’s right to defend itself against Taliban attacks,” she added.
The diplomatic outreach from Washington comes as Pakistan’s Operation Ghazab Lil Haq enters its most intense phase, with official figures confirming 133 Taliban operatives killed and over 200 injured since the operation began. Pakistani forces have conducted airstrikes in multiple Afghan provinces, including Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia, destroying two corps headquarters, three brigade headquarters, and two ammunition depots.
The US statement stops short of endorsing Pakistan’s cross-border military actions but explicitly acknowledges Pakistan’s right to self-defense—a formulation that suggests understanding of Islamabad’s security concerns amid escalating Taliban aggression.
The call between Hooker and Foreign Secretary Baloch represents the first significant US diplomatic engagement since the conflict intensified. It follows President Donald Trump’s recent remarks praising Pakistan’s leadership and declining to intervene in the situation, stating that “Pakistan is doing well with Afghanistan.”
