Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Callum Jones

US backs Pakistan’s ‘right to defend itself’ against Taliban after strikes on Afghanistan

Taliban Afghanistan Pakistan United States Kaja Kallas European Union Kabul
A Taliban security personnel stands guard along a road in Kandahar on 27 February, 2026, after overnight cross-border firing between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
A Taliban security personnel stands guard along a road in Kandahar on 27 February, 2026, after overnight cross-border firing between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Photograph: AFP/via Getty Images

Washington endorsed Pakistan’s “right to defend itself” after it bombed major cities across Afghanistan amid heightened tensions between the two hostile neighbours.

The Taliban government in Kabul stressed it was ready to negotiate on Friday as violence intensified between the two countries.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
1.5% Mix Not Universally Optimal: Lab tests split on butt–asphalt blends; researchers warn on ‘best’ dose
Innovative research has found that incorporating cigarette-butt waste into asphalt mixtures could significantly enhance pavement quality. A study showed that a blend with 1.5% cigarette butts achieved optimal deformation resistance, while mixtures containing 2% butts exhibited greater thermal stability. Various methods for safely encapsulating the butts were also explored to…
The Times of India
The Times of India
Woman walks up to Boston man to compliment his ‘cool hat’. Then she realizes what it actually is: ‘I don’t see no hat’
Well, that’s awkward.
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
New Yorker paid $3 for yard-sale bowl; ancient artefact later sold for $2.225m
A remarkable discovery unfolded in 2007 when a New Yorker purchased a small white bowl for merely three dollars during a yard sale. For years, this bowl was displayed proudly in their home until appraisers revealed its true worth: a rare 'Ding' ware from the Northern Song dynasty valued between…
The Times of India
The Times of India
50 Cent Reveals Eminem 'Put a Couple of Pieces Together' Before Stepping Back to Work on New Album
50 Cent says Eminem helped develop music for the upcoming Street Fighter film before prioritising his next album, leaving the collaboration and soundtrack plans uncertain.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
A Connecticut TikToker says she kept getting nearly empty dressing cups at Chipotle, and her message is ‘Get it together, Chipotle’
There's barely any in the containers
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
Girls is back: why it’s the perfect time for more of Lena Dunham’s millennial Sex and the City
HBO’s era-defining comedy is set for a new five-episode series. Its bleakness and warmth couldn’t be more welcome
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play