Russia is deeply concerned by the sharpening conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which has resulted in civilian casualties, and urges both sides to resolve their differences through dialogue, Albert Khorev, the Russian Ambassador to Pakistan, said.
"We are very concerned with the current development of the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and recent reports indicating that military strikes are resulting in civilian deaths are, of course, of particular concern," Khorev said during a briefing. He emphasized Russia's position that the parties should sit down at the negotiating table as soon as possible to find a way out of the situation through political and diplomatic dialogue.
The ambassador's comments follow claims by Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid that the Pakistani Air Force targeted a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul. While Islamabad denied hitting civilian facilities, asserting that its strikes were directed exclusively at military targets, the Afghan Ministry of Interior reported that the death toll from the strike in Kabul has risen to 408, with at least 265 others injured.
Fighting along the border intensified on the evening of February 26. Kabul stated it was conducting military operations in retaliation for recent Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory. Meanwhile, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif announced that the country is now in a state of open armed confrontation with the Taliban government in Afghanistan.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Evgeny Messman/TASS
Based on materials from TASS