• Heavy airstrikes from Pakistan target Taliban positions in major Afghan cities.
• Taliban expresses willingness to negotiate amid ongoing clashes.
• Witnesses report loud blasts and gunfire in Kabul as violence escalates.
• Pakistani Defense Minister declares "open war" with Afghanistan.
• US and EU officials emphasize the need for dialogue and cessation of violence.

In a significant escalation of violence, Pakistan has initiated airstrikes targeting Taliban positions in various Afghan cities, including Kabul and Kandahar, amidst rising tensions that the Taliban has described as an "open war." Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the strikes have resulted in civilian casualties, while the air campaign has been characterized by Pakistan as "Operation Ghazab Lil Haq," aimed at dismantling militant infrastructure, according to SCMP and India Times.

As Pakistan's air operations continue, Kabul residents reported experiencing a series of loud blasts and gunfire, heard during early morning hours, following recent airstrikes. There were attempts by Afghan forces to target Pakistani aircraft, further increasing the conflict's intensity. Mujahid reassured the public that these actions were defensive rather than provocative, highlighting the ongoing chaos in the capital, according to Channel News Asia and India Times.

The recent military confrontation follows longstanding allegations from Pakistan that Afghanistan is sheltering the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Islamabad has reported significant casualties, claiming to have killed 133 Afghan militants, whereas the Taliban has described these actions as "cowardly" and responded with its military operations along the shared border, further complicating the situation, according to SCMP and Channel News Asia.

In light of the escalating conflict, international calls for dialogue have increased. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over the violence and has urged for immediate cessation and resolution of differences through diplomatic means, echoed by officials from the United States and the European Union, according to SCMP and India Times.