Russia has called on Pakistan and Afghanistan to immediately de-escalate tensions and resolve their long-running disputes through dialogue following deadly cross-border military action that has claimed dozens of lives.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern over what it described as the “tragic episode” involving Pakistani airstrikes along the Afghan border. Moscow urged both Islamabad and Kabul to abandon armed confrontation and instead pursue political and diplomatic solutions to prevent further bloodshed.
The appeal comes after the United Nations reported that at least 28 people were killed in the latest wave of violence. However, Pakistani security forces and the Afghan Taliban have released higher casualty figures, highlighting conflicting accounts of the deadly incident.
Border tensions between the neighbouring countries have remained high as Pakistan continues to accuse Afghanistan of providing safe haven to militants responsible for planning attacks inside Pakistani territory. The Afghan Taliban has repeatedly denied the allegations, insisting that militancy is Pakistan’s internal security issue rather than Afghanistan’s responsibility.
Russia, which has maintained relations with both governments, said only meaningful diplomatic engagement can prevent the conflict from escalating further. The latest violence has raised fresh concerns over stability in the region, with international observers continuing to urge restraint from both sides.
