WASHINGTON: The United States on Friday expressed support for what it called Pakistan’s “right to defend itself” against attacks from Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers after Islamabad said earlier in the day that the neighboring countries were in “open war.” Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers had said on Friday they were willing to negotiate after Pakistan bombed their forces in major cities. “The United States supports Pakistan’s right to defend itself against attacks from the Taliban, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group,” a State Department spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

The Taliban says its leaders willing to negotiate with Pakistan as both sides claim to inflict heavy losses in fighting.

The U.S. backs Pakistan's right to self-defense against Taliban attacks amid escalating tensions and violence.