Russia Urges Dialogue as Afghanistan–Pakistan Tensions Escalate

Moscow. Russia has expressed serious concern over the growing military tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, saying that the ongoing confrontation is primarily affecting civilians.

The Russian Foreign Ministry cited the reported Pakistani Air Force strikes on Afghanistan’s eastern provinces of Paktia, Paktika and Kunar overnight on June 29 as another tragic episode in the latest escalation.

According to UN sources, at least 28 people were killed and around 50 others were injured in the strikes. Afghan officials, however, have claimed that the number of casualties was higher. Pakistan has said the operations targeted militant hideouts.

Russia has called on all parties to exercise restraint and choose the path of dialogue instead of military action. Moscow said growing military activity along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border could further complicate regional stability, civilian security and long-term counterterrorism efforts.

The latest tensions appear to have intensified after an attack on Pakistani security forces in Karachi, in which three Pakistani Rangers personnel were killed. The attack was reportedly claimed by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a group linked to the Pakistani Taliban. Pakistan later said it had carried out operations against militant infrastructure near the border.

Islamabad has long accused armed groups operating from Afghan territory of carrying out attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban-led administration in Kabul has denied such accusations and has described Pakistani airstrikes as violations of Afghanistan’s sovereignty.

Tensions along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border have repeatedly escalated in recent years. Since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has accused the Pakistani Taliban and related groups of expanding activities from Afghan soil. Afghan authorities, meanwhile, have said that Pakistani military actions have mainly harmed civilians in border areas.

Russia’s latest response reflects broader concerns over regional security. Moscow views Afghanistan as a sensitive region linked to Central Asian, South Asian and wider Eurasian security. If Afghanistan–Pakistan tensions escalate further, the impact could extend to border security, terrorism, refugee flows, humanitarian conditions and regional diplomacy.

Russia has urged both Islamabad and Kabul to halt military action, resume direct dialogue and use political and diplomatic mechanisms to resolve disputes.

The latest incident has once again exposed the deep crisis of trust between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Security concerns over terrorism, cross-border militant activity, sovereignty and civilian protection have become intertwined, making the dispute increasingly complex.

Regional analysts say that if both countries fail to take immediate steps to reduce tensions, the risk of further violence, retaliatory operations and civilian suffering may increase. In such a situation, the international community, particularly the United Nations, regional powers and neighboring countries, may need to help create conditions for dialogue.

Russia’s appeal has once again highlighted the need to move the Afghanistan–Pakistan dispute away from military confrontation and toward political dialogue and diplomatic settlement.