Amid growing clashes with the Taliban, Pakistan’s moves mirror, ironically, an approach it has decried in the past.

The Taliban responded with contradictory stances in the effort to rescue women and girls who were wounded and left homeless. That's a reflection of tensions between hardliners and pragmatists.

The Taliban government accuses Pakistan of bombing Kabul and a market in eastern Afghanistan. A blast occurred Thursday night in Kabul near key government buildings.

Attacks come amid rising tensions with Islamabad, which accuses the Taliban of sheltering anti-Pakistan armed groups.

A fierce clash erupted overnight between the militaries of Afghanistan, under the Taliban government, and Pakistan, marking one of the most intense confrontations between the neighboring countries in recent years.

SRINAGAR, India (AP) — India is upgrading its technical mission in Kabul to a full embassy, India’s foreign minister announced Friday after meeting his Afghanistan counterpart in New Delhi. The announcement was made during the first high-level diplomatic engagement since the Taliban seized power in 2021 after two decades of U.S. military presence.

India never aligned with the Taliban, but regional geopolitical realignment is forcing revamp of ties, say analysts.

Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have flared in recent days with the exchange of deadly gunfire between the neighbors that has stoked fears of a wider conflict.