Russia Expresses Alarm Over Pakistan-Afghanistan Clashes, Urges Return to Dialogue

MOSCOW — Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova has expressed serious concern over the sudden escalation of armed clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, calling on both sides to step back from confrontation and return to the negotiating table.
In her official statement, Zakharova said Russia is deeply troubled by the rapid intensification of hostilities along the Pak-Afghan border. She urged both Islamabad and Kabul to abandon this dangerous path of military conflict and resolve all differences through political and diplomatic means.
The statement comes as Pakistan’s Operation Azm-ul-Haq continues in full force, with Pakistani forces reporting 274 Taliban regime personnel killed, 18 border posts captured, and over 115 armored vehicles destroyed. Pakistan has justified the operation as a defensive response to coordinated Taliban attacks across 53 locations along the border.
Russia’s call for de-escalation stands in contrast to the position of US President Donald Trump, who has openly backed Pakistan’s military actions and stated he will not intervene in the conflict.
Moscow’s appeal reflects growing international unease over the conflict’s potential to destabilize an already volatile region, with world powers now taking note of the rapidly evolving situation on the Pak-Afghan border.