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Pakistan declares open war after Kabul strikes, claims 133 Afghan fighters killed

Pakistan has declared “open war” after launching strikes in Kabul and other Afghan cities, claiming 133 Afghan fighters were killed, while Kabul disputes the figures and reports its own casualties.

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Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have sharply escalated after Islamabad declared “open war” on the Afghan Taliban government following renewed clashes along their shared border.

Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia on Friday, hours after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border troops. The Taliban government described its cross-border assault as retaliation for earlier Pakistani airstrikes this week.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif posted on X that Islamabad’s “patience has reached its limit” and announced the launch of Operation Ghazab Lil Haq against Afghanistan.

Afghanistan’s account

According to Taliban officials, at least three explosions were heard in Kabul. Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistan also conducted strikes in Kandahar and Paktia province. There were no immediate confirmed reports of casualties in Kabul from the airstrikes.

Afghanistan’s defence ministry said its forces had launched an offensive late Thursday across the border into Pakistan, claiming it was in response to deadly Pakistani airstrikes last Sunday. It claimed to have captured more than a dozen Pakistani army posts and reported that eight Afghan soldiers were killed in the land operation, with 11 others wounded.

An Afghan official in Nangarhar province said a mortar shell hit a refugee camp near the Torkham border crossing, injuring several civilians, including women. Afghan authorities later said 13 civilians were wounded in a missile strike on the camp.

Afghanistan also claimed its forces shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet and released video footage of a burning aircraft. The footage could not be independently verified.

Pakistan’s account

Pakistan’s military said it targeted Afghan military facilities in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, allegedly destroying brigade and corps headquarters as well as ammunition and logistics installations.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described the Afghan cross-border action as “unprovoked firing” and said Pakistan was giving a “strong and effective response.” He initially said two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three wounded, while 36 Afghan fighters had died.

Later, Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, spokesperson for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, claimed at least 133 Afghan fighters were killed and more than 200 wounded. He denied that any Pakistani soldiers had been captured and said 27 Afghan posts were destroyed and nine fighters taken into custody.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the Afghan Taliban for allegedly targeting civilians, stating that Pakistan’s armed forces had responded “befittingly” to what he termed open aggression.

Mismatch in casualty figures

Both sides have reported sharply differing casualty figures.

Afghanistan’s defence ministry said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and several others captured, claiming it destroyed 19 Pakistani posts and two bases. Pakistan, however, maintained that only two of its soldiers were killed and rejected claims of captured personnel.

Exchanges of fire were also reported in the Torkham border area, with residents on both sides moving to safer locations. Pakistani police said mortars fired from Afghanistan landed in nearby villages, though no civilian casualties were reported there.

Rising regional tensions

The latest violence follows months of heightened tension between the two neighbours. Deadly clashes in October had already claimed the lives of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to protect civilians and resolve differences through diplomacy, according to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

A Qatar-mediated ceasefire between the two countries had largely held in recent weeks, despite sporadic exchanges of fire. However, recent strikes and retaliatory actions have placed the truce under significant strain.

Pakistan has said militant violence within its territory has surged in recent years, blaming the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch separatist groups. Islamabad accuses the TTP of operating from inside Afghanistan, an allegation denied by both the group and Kabul.

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India envoy Dinesh Trivedi meets PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman 

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman amid diplomatic tensions.

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India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, a day after his meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka.

According to the High Commission of India in Bangladesh, Trivedi sought PM Modi’s guidance on further strengthening the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh through a constructive and people-centric approach.

The meeting came a day after Trivedi held discussions with Tarique Rahman on matters of mutual interest and ways to advance ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Dinesh Trivedi Meets Bangladesh PM

During his meeting with Tarique Rahman on Monday, Trivedi conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Modi and reiterated India’s commitment to working with the Bangladeshi administration and its people in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner.

The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and explored avenues for strengthening India-Bangladesh relations with a people-centric approach.

The engagement took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Trivedi also shared his experience of serving in Dhaka over the previous two months.

Sheikh Hasina Extradition Request

The meeting assumed significance as Bangladesh has expressed hope that India will expedite the extradition process involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted following a student-led uprising in 2024.

According to a statement issued by the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, Dhaka also reiterated its request for India to return individuals it alleges were involved in the killing of Shahid Osman Hadi, a prominent figure associated with the July uprising who was shot on December 12, 2025.

Tarique Rahman stressed the need to create a suitable environment to take forward relations between Bangladesh and India.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and other officials attended the meeting.

India-Bangladesh Ties Amid Diplomatic Friction

The latest high-level engagements come amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries following a virtual press interaction by Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi on August 5.

The event, organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia to mark the second anniversary of her ouster, prompted strong objections from Dhaka.

During the interaction, Hasina said she remained determined to return to Bangladesh in December and restore democracy, while acknowledging the possibility of imprisonment or a death sentence upon her return.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently registered a strong protest and said the development had affected public sentiment and complicated efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

India has said the government had no involvement in the event. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it was organised by a private media entity and clarified that New Delhi did not endorse views expressed at the forum.

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Trump, PM Modi will resolve tariff issue over Russian oil trade, says US official

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue over US tariff threats linked to India’s Russian oil trade.

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US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue surrounding the threat of US tariffs linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said on Tuesday.

Navarro’s remarks came days after the US Senate passed a bill authorising the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the top five purchasers of Russian oil. The measure argues that such purchases directly contribute to financing Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Navarro comments on India’s Russian oil trade

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Navarro said India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia before the Ukraine war began in 2022.

He alleged that India became heavily involved in the trade after Russia’s invasion and sold refined products on behalf of Russia, which he said helped support the Russian war effort.

“Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia, but afterwards it got heavily involved,” Navarro said.

The White House adviser also claimed that the issue had since been resolved and attributed some of the shift in India’s Russian oil trade to an opinion article he recently wrote in the Financial Times.

Trump and Modi will resolve issue, Navarro says

Navarro said the relationship between Trump and Modi would help address the tariff-related issue.

“The president and your prime minister have a very good working relationship. They are going to work that out amongst themselves,” he said, adding that it was not his place to intervene.

His comments come amid US concerns over countries purchasing Russian oil and proposed measures aimed at imposing additional tariffs on major buyers.

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US Senate passes Russia sanctions bill, India-China face 100% tariff risk

The US Senate has passed a Russia sanctions bill that could allow 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China.

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The US Senate has approved a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including India and China.

The legislation was passed by an 86-11 vote and will now move to the US House of Representatives, which is scheduled to reconvene on August 31.

The bill is named in honour of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of Ukraine who died on July 11. Graham had pushed for tougher sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.

India and China among major Russian energy buyers

The legislation gives the US president the power to impose tariffs on the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas.

India and China are among those countries, along with Azerbaijan, Hungary and Slovakia.

The bill also contains an exception for countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and taking steps to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies.

What does the Russia sanctions bill contain?

Apart from the proposed tariffs, the legislation includes sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, financial institutions and energy projects.

The bill would also expand US sanctions to older and reflagged oil tankers allegedly used by Moscow to bypass existing restrictions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

At the same time, the White House would have the option to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest.

Bill also extends Iran sanctions law

The legislation also contains a provision related to Iran. It would extend the expiration date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 until 2031.

The law penalises companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector.

The bill’s passage in the Senate marks the next step in the US legislative process, but it still needs approval from the House of Representatives before it can move forward.

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