Amidst ongoing hostilities along the border, U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that Washington will not intervene in the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Trump indicated he could step in but emphasized his “very good relations” with Pakistan, praising its Prime Minister and a prominent general for whom he “have a lot of respect.”

The situation escalated into “open war” after Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes, dubbed Operation Ghazab lil-Haq (Righteous Fury), following unprovoked firing by the Taliban regime across multiple sectors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistani forces reportedly destroyed several key Afghan Taliban posts, with the Pakistan Air Force conducting strikes in Kandahar, Kabul, and Paktia, resulting in significant losses on the Afghan side. Pakistani authorities reported 12 security personnel martyred and 27 injured, with 297 Afghan Taliban killed.

When questioned about potential U.S. intervention, Trump reiterated his positive relationship with Pakistan, stating, “Well, I would (intervene), but I get along with Pakistan, as you know, very well. Very, very well. You have a great Prime Minister, you have a great general there, you have a great leader, two of the people that I really respect a lot.”

He expressed belief that Pakistan is progressing strongly, signaling Washington’s intent to remain uninvolved. The U.S. State Department affirmed support for Pakistan’s “right to defend itself” against attacks from the Taliban, acknowledging the escalation and expressing sadness over the loss of life. The statement also highlighted the Taliban’s failure to uphold counterterrorism commitments and the use of Afghan territory by terrorist groups to launch attacks.