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Afghan Taliban confirm ‘retaliatory’ border attacks on Pakistan
The Taliban government has confirmed that it attacked Pakistani troops in multiple mountainous locations on the northern border.
Casualties are not yet clear in what the Taliban called “retaliatory operations”, after it said Pakistan violated Afghan airspace and bombed a market inside its border on Thursday.
Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called the Taliban attacks “unprovoked”, accusing them of firing at civilians. Pakistani forces would respond “with a stone for every brick”, he warned.
Islamabad accuses Kabul of harbouring terrorists who target Pakistan on its soil, a claim the Taliban reject. The escalation came as the Afghan Taliban foreign minister was in India for an historic visit.
Both sides are said to have used small arms and artillery in the Kunar-Kurram region, the BBC understands.
Saying he “strongly condemns” the Taliban’s attacks, Naqvi stated: “The firing by Afghan forces on civilian populations is a blatant violation of international laws.
“Afghanistan is playing a game of fire and blood,” he said in a post on X.
A Pakistani military spokesman said they would take necessary measures to safeguard Pakistani lives and properties.
Pakistan’s military has not officially commented, but a security source told the BBC firing took place at several locations along the Pakistani-Afghan border, including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir, Chitral and Baramcha.
A police official stationed near the Zero Point in Kurram district told the BBC that heavy weapons fire began from the Afghan side around 22:00 local time (17:00 GMT).
He said they had received reports of intense gunfire from multiple locations along the border.
Last week, Afghanistan’s Taliban government accused Pakistan of violating Kabul’s sovereign territory, as two loud blasts were heard in the city late on Thursday.
Pakistan bombed a civilian market in the border province of Paktika, in Afghanistan’s south-east, the Taliban Defence Ministry said on Friday. Locals there told the BBC’s Afghan service that a number of shops had been destroyed.
A top Pakistani general alleged Afghanistan was being used as a “base of operation for terrorism against Pakistan”.
Pakistan has long accused the Afghan Taliban of permitting the Pakistan Taliban, known as the TTP, to operate from their land and fight against the Islamabad government in a bid to enforce a strict Islamic-led system of governance.
The Taliban government has always denied this.
The latest escalation came as the Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Anur Khan Muttaqi was in India for a week-long visit. In a diplomatic thaw, Delhi said that it would reopen the embassy in Kabul, which was shut four years ago when the Taliban returned to power.
“Afghanistan will also be given a befitting reply like India, so that it will not dare to look at Pakistan with a malicious eye,” Naqvi warned.
In a statement, Saudi Arabia, which signed a mutual defence pact with Pakistan last month, called for self-restraint and avoidance of escalation between Islamabad and Kabul.
Qatar also issued a statement, expressing concern over the Pakistan-Afghanistan border tensions and saying that it “urges both sides to prioritise dialogue, diplomacy, and restraint”.
[BBC]
US President Donald Trump has exempted Hungary from sanctions over its continued purchases of Russian oil and gas for one year, a White House official has confirmed to BBC News.
Earlier, the US president said he would consider an opt-out for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close Trump ally who has maintained good relations with Russia throughout the Ukraine war.
Speaking on Friday during Orban’s visit to the White House, Trump said an exemption was under consideration because “it’s very difficult for Orban to get the oil and gas from other areas”.
It comes after the US effectively blacklisted two of Russia’a largest oil companies last month, threatening sanctions on those who buy from them.
[BBC]
American delivery firms UPS and FedEx have temporarily grounded part of their fleets of cargo planes after a mid-take-off crash in Kentucky on Tuesday left at least 14 people dead.
The UPS aircraft burst into flames shortly after take-off when it collided with neighbouring business premises, triggering a huge fire which gutted several buildings and closed Louisville International Airport.
UPS said the decision to ground MD-11 models followed instructions from manufacturer Boeing, while rival delivery giant FedEx confirmed it would follow suit.
Officials are yet to determine what caused the deadly crash.
Hours before the fleet was grounded, officials confirmed that the death toll had risen to 14 after another body was found, with buildings caught up in the fire still being searched for more victims.
“We pray for each of the victims’ families and pray that no additional victims are lost,” Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said.
In a statement, UPS said the decision to ground 9% of its fleet was out of an “abundance of caution”.
Boeing later said in a statement to Reuters that it recommended UPS and FedEx suspend use of the MD-11 plane.
“This recommendation was made in an abundance of caution and we will continue coordinating with the FAA on this matter,” a Boeing spokesperson said.
It is unclear to what extent delivery services will be impacted by the moves from UPS and FedEx, which are the world’s largest cargo carriers.
FedEx said it operated 28 MD-11s and Reuters quoted a UPS fact-sheet that said the firm had 27 in its fleet before the Kentucky crash.
UPS said contingency plans were in place to continue service. A statement continued: “Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve.”
The model of aircraft involved in the crash was a MD-11F triple-engine plane, which first entered service 34 years ago with Thai Airways as a passenger jet, but was transferred to UPS in 2006.
MD-11s were originally manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, before the company merged with Boeing in 1997. Production of MD-11 planes ended in 2000, while passenger service officially ended in 2014.
According to the National Transportation and Safety Board, the left engine caught fire and detached from the wing during take-off.
The aircraft was carrying 38,000 gallons (144,000 litres) of fuel as it took off for a long flight to Hawaii, which contributed to the size of the fire after the crash.
[BBC]
India claimed a 2-1 series victory over Australia in an anti-climax after the fifth and final T20I was abandoned due to heavy rain and thunderstorms in Brisbane.
After being sent in to bat, there had been intrigue over how India’s top-order would fare on a Gabba surface with plenty of bounce and carry. But with their nemesis Josh Hazlewood in Ashes prep mode and again not in the line-up, Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill plundered 52 runs before play came to a halt after 4.5 overs.
Abhishek did have luck having been dropped twice, but Gill was in sweet touch as he smacked 29 off 16 balls.
The series ended the same way it began after rain ruined the opening T20I in Canberra. Australia dominated game two in front of 82,000 fans at the MCG, largely thanks to a rampant Hazlewood but India ultimately prevailed in the series after their spinners gained a stranglehold on slower surfaces in Hobart and the Gold Coast.
India will head home well pleased ahead of their T20 World Cup title defence on home soil.
“The way everyone chipped in every game, it was a complete team effort with the bat, ball and in the field,” India captain Suryakumar Yadav said.
“I saw what happened with the women’s team winning the World Cup in India, having unbelievable support. When you play at home there is pressure but at the same there is a lot of excitement.”
In their final hit-out in the format before the T20 World Cup, Australia’s aggressive batting approach against high-quality spin attacks has come under scrutiny although recriminations are unlikely amid Ashes hysteria.
“I don’t think I can remember the last time we had so many rain interruptions,” Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said. “I think there are a lot of learnings to take forward, a lot of positives. The flexibility of our group and the squad that we’re trying to build in a World Cup year has been amazing.”
Earlier, a grinning Marsh once again won the toss but his mood soon soured after the start India’s openers got.
There was no settling in for left-arm quick Ben Dwarshuis as Abhishek bludgeoned a trademark boundary over mid-off on the fourth delivery of the match.
He tried to repeat the dose on the next ball only to miscue high into the air where Glenn Maxwell nestled under having trudged back from mid-off. A resigned Abhishek had already begun walking off only for the unthinkable to happen, with Maxwell spilling a straightforward catch.
While Abhishek lived dangerously, Gill was in sublime touch as he stroked four boundaries off Dwarshuis’ second over with the best being a gorgeous cover drive. Gill was in the type of commanding form that had eluded him during a tough tour – which started with an ODI series defeat in his captaincy debut in the format – and he looked determined to finish on a high.
Abhishek, on 11, received another life when he was dropped by Dwarshuis who ran in from fine-leg before compounding Nathan Ellis’ misery by smashing him over midwicket for six.
Typical for Brisbane this time for year, bad weather loomed large and the players went off due to lightning before heavy rain cascaded onto the ground in a major disappointment for the sold-out crowd.
Scores: No result
India 52 for 0 in 4.5 overs (Shubman Gill 29*, Abhishek Sharma 23*) vs Australia
[Cricinfo]
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