Pakistan launched airstrikes in Afghanistan targeting 37 locations, escalating hostilities following a cross-border Afghan offensive. The United States expressed support for Pakistan's right to defend itself against Taliban attacks.
The operation, which Pakistan's defense minister called "open war," marks its most widespread bombardment and first airstrikes on Kandahar, the Taliban's southern power base. Casualty claims are difficult to verify, but reports indicate hundreds of militants and soldiers killed, along with civilians.
International concern is high, with China, Britain, the UN, and the ICRC calling for de-escalation and dialogue. Relations between the neighbors have deteriorated, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of harboring militants, a claim the Taliban government denies.