Moscow asks Pakistan - Afghanistan to stop attacking each other, encourages diplomatic settlement

JAKARTA - Russia has called on Afghanistan and Pakistan to end their attacks on each other as soon as possible and resolve their disputes diplomatically.

On Thursday night, Afghanistan announced it had launched a large-scale offensive military operation against Pakistani forces along the border in response to the bombing attack.

"We support the early cessation of attacks on each other, and the diplomatic settlement of the conflict," Russian President's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Foreign Minister Advisor Zamir Kabulov told RIA Novosti, Friday, February 27, reported ANTARA.

Russia will also consider the possibility of providing mediation services to Pakistan and Afghanistan if there is a request from both sides, Kabulov added.

Previously on Friday (27/2), the spokesperson for the Afghan government, Zabihullah Mujahid, said that Pakistan launched airstrikes on several provinces in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia in Afghanistan, although there were no reports of casualties.

At the same time, the spokesperson for the Prime Minister of Pakistan for Foreign Media, Mosharraf Zaidi, said the number of Afghan forces killed in border clashes with Pakistan had risen to 133.