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Afghan security forces suffer ‘shockingly high’ casualties
At least 150 Afghan troops have been killed or injured in the last 24 hours in a surge of attacks by Taliban militants, senior government officials told Reuters on Monday.
According to the officials, fighting is now raging in 26 of the country’s 34 provinces.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity as the Afghan government does not give total tallies on deaths and injuries among security forces, said casualties were “shockingly high”.
This comes amid a sharp increase in the number of clashes between the Afghan security forces and the Taliban – all while US forces and NATO troops continue to withdraw.
“In the past 24 hours, there were unfortunately 157 casualties among forces,” one senior official said on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak to the media.
The spike in Taliban attacks meanwhile comes amid rising concerns that Afghan government forces could lose the single most important military advantage they have over the Taliban — air power — when private contractors and U.S. troops leave the country.
Roughly 18,000 foreign contractors in Afghanistan provide an array of key services to the Afghan security forces, but they are expected to leave the country along with U.S. and NATO troops in the coming weeks.
NBC reported that without the help of foreign contractors, Afghan forces will no longer be able to keep dozens of fighter planes, cargo aircraft, U.S.-made helicopters and drones flying for more than a few more months, according to military experts and a recent Defense Department inspector general’s report.
According to Bradley Bowman, senior director of the center on military and political power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank, air power is the Afghan government’s main competitive edge in its fight against the Taliban.
Bowman, a former U.S. Army officer and Black Hawk helicopter pilot who served in Afghanistan said with the withdrawal of contractors “we’re talking about the more or less grounding of the Afghan Air Force.”
“If we don’t help them maintain those aircraft, then the Afghan security forces will be deprived of that advantage and that could have a decisive impact on the battlefield and ultimately on the state of the Afghan government,” he told NBC.
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UAE and Iran call for diplomatic resolution to Afghanistan–Pakistan tensions
The United Arab Emirates has expressed concern over the recent clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, urging both sides to exercise restraint and prevent any further escalation.
In its statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that disputes must be resolved through dialogue and diplomatic channels — an approach the country says can help strengthen security and stability in South Asia.
The UAE also reaffirmed its support for efforts aimed at building trust and promoting dialogue between the two sides, noting that such steps can help fulfill the aspirations of both nations for peace and development.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran issued a separate statement expressing deep concern and regret over the intensifying violence, warning that continued hostilities could have serious humanitarian and security consequences for the region.
Tehran emphasized the need for mutual respect for territorial integrity and national sovereignty, calling on both countries to immediately begin dialogue and engagement.
Iran also announced its readiness to assist in reducing tensions and facilitating discussions between the two sides to achieve a complete cessation of hostilities and reach an understanding.
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EU calls for immediate de-escalation amid rising Afghanistan–Pakistan tensions
The European Union has urged all parties involved to immediately de-escalate following a sharp rise in violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan, including cross-Durand Line attacks and airstrikes.
In a statement issued by the High Representative on behalf of the EU, the bloc warned that the continuation of hostilities could have “serious implications for the region.”
The statement reaffirmed the EU’s position that Afghan territory must not be used to threaten or attack other states, calling on the Islamic Emirate to take “effective action” against all terrorist groups operating in or from Afghanistan. The Islamic Emirate has previously denied presence of militant groups in Afghanistan.
The EU also urged both Kabul and Islamabad to pursue dialogue to prevent further escalation. It stressed that international law — including humanitarian law — must be respected by all sides, and emphasized the importance of protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure.
“All feasible precautions must be taken to prevent further civilian harm,” the statement added.
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IEA: Special circle in Pakistan has launched mission to destabilize region
The spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid, says that a special circle in Pakistan has launched a mission to destabilize the region following the recent escalation of conflicts between the two countries.
Speaking at a press conference in Kandahar province on Friday, Mujahid urged regional countries to put a stop to the “troublemakers.”
Mujahid stated that Afghan air forces had precisely targeted Pakistani military centers.
In response to a question about what position the Islamic Emirate would take if regional countries called for a halt to the war, he said that the Islamic Emirate seeks a peaceful resolution of issues and that they have previously held several rounds of negotiations and discussed the matters; however, the Pakistani side has not been prepared to resolve the issues through peaceful dialogue.
The spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate emphasized that the Pakistani side consistently attempts to fabricate pretexts for war and links its internal issues to Afghanistan.
Mujahid further stated that Pakistani aircraft are still patrolling Afghanistan’s airspace.
Last night, following retaliatory attacks by Afghan forces on Pakistani military facilities across the Durand Line, Pakistan’s military regime carried out airstrikes on locations in three Afghan provinces.
Mujahid confirmed that Pakistani forces bombed certain areas in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia.
He added that during the fighting that began Friday night, 13 Afghan soldiers were “martyred” and 22 others were wounded.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan described the operation as retaliation for Pakistan’s previous attacks in Nangarhar and Paktika earlier this week.
The Afghan Ministry of National Defense also announced that in these clashes, Afghan forces killed 55 Pakistani soldiers, captured several others, and seized two military headquarters along with 19 security posts.
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