US President Donald Trump seems to have adopted an extremely peculiar and affectionate attitude towards Islamabad when he said that he had a "very, very well" relationship with the leadership of the country, despite the fact that the border conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan had escalated into what could be referred to as an "open war."
When asked on Friday as to whether he would consider intervening in the escalating violence, Trump said he would consider it, but he had more to say about the leadership of Pakistan.
"I would [intervene]. But I get along with Pakistan very well. They have a great Prime Minister, a great general. They have a great leader," added Trump.
The US State Department has mirrored this supportive stance. Allison M Hooker, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, held talks with Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, Amna Baloch, to offer condolences for the loss of life during the recent skirmishes. More importantly, Hooker reiterated the US stance on the region's security, saying, "We continue to monitor the situation closely and expressed support for Pakistan’s right to defend itself against Taliban attacks."
Nevertheless, the situation in the region is precarious, and the US Mission in Pakistan has issued an advisory for American citizens, saying, "Security personnel have been deployed in large numbers in major cities."
Citizens should exercise extreme caution, especially during peak hours, owing to the increased probability of retaliatory terrorist attacks.
The current crisis reached a breaking point after Pakistan declared "open war," launching unprecedented airstrikes against Taliban-controlled cities including Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia. Islamabad claims these strikes were a necessary response to Afghanistan harbouring militants— a charge the Taliban denies.
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