Russia Calls for Calm as Deadly Pakistan–Afghanistan Border Clashes Escalate

Russia has appealed for restraint following two days of heavy fighting between Pakistani and Taliban forces along their shared border, which has left dozens dead and severely disrupted trade activities in the region.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it was “closely monitoring the situation” and noted that tensions appeared to be “stabilising.” The Kremlin added that it “welcomes this process,” joining China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar in calling for an immediate de-escalation.

Hostilities broke out late last week after the Taliban accused Pakistan of masterminding a series of explosions in Kabul and the eastern province of Paktika on Thursday.

By Saturday night, Taliban fighters reportedly launched coordinated attacks on several Pakistani military positions, triggering fierce retaliatory strikes. Both sides exchanged artillery fire, drone attacks, and gunfire through Sunday morning, with sporadic clashes continuing into the new week.

The two countries have released sharply conflicting casualty figures.

Pakistan’s military reported 23 soldiers killed while claiming to have neutralised more than 200 Taliban and allied fighters. However, Afghan officials countered that 58 Pakistani troops were killed in the exchanges.

By Monday, Pakistani troops were said to be on high alert along the Spin Boldak–Chaman crossing, where hundreds of civilians and commercial trucks remained stranded following the border closure.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry in a statement said the country “greatly values dialogue and diplomacy,” but warned that “any further provocations would be met with an unwavering and befitting response.”

Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have steadily worsened since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

Pakistan has consistently accused Afghanistan of harbouring the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — an armed group responsible for multiple attacks on Pakistani soil. The Taliban government has repeatedly denied the claim, insisting it does not support cross-border militancy.

Russia, which has sought to expand its influence in post-U.S. Afghanistan, has emerged as a key diplomatic player in the evolving South Asian security landscape.

In both 2022 and 2024, Taliban representatives attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, marking a gradual thaw in Moscow–Kabul relations.

Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the Taliban as “allies in the fight against terrorism,” particularly against ISIS-K (Islamic State Khorasan Province) — the regional affiliate of ISIL that has staged deadly attacks in Russia, Iran, and Afghanistan.

In July 2025, Russia became the first country to formally recognise the Taliban government — a decision the Kremlin said was intended to “boost productive bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.”

Analysts say Moscow’s latest intervention reflects its growing stake in maintaining regional stability, especially as new power alignments emerge across Central and South Asia.

The Russian Foreign Ministry’s call for restraint, they note, underscores Moscow’s intent to position itself as a mediator and stabiliser amid shifting alliances and old rivalries in the region.

“Russia’s involvement is no longer symbolic,” said a senior Central Asian affairs analyst in Moscow. “It is actively trying to shape outcomes that prevent instability from spilling over into its southern borders.”

U.S. Government Shutdown Enters Third Week as Partisan Divide Worsens

The political standoff in the United States has deepened as the government shutdown entered its third week on Monday, with Republicans and Democrats still unable to reach a compromise on a new funding bill to reopen federal operations.

The prolonged closure has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed, major public institutions such as the Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo closed, and key services like air traffic control under increasing strain.

Despite mounting frustration from citizens and mounting economic concerns, both parties remain entrenched in their positions, showing no immediate signs of compromise.

At the heart of the stalemate is a fierce disagreement over health care spending.

Senate Democrats have refused to support a short-term funding bill unless Republicans agree to restore subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and reverse President Donald Trump’s cuts to Medicaid.

Republicans, on the other hand, insist that the government must first reopen before any policy negotiations can take place, accusing Democrats of “holding the budget process hostage.”

The impasse underscores the deep mistrust that has defined relations between both parties — now nine months into Trump’s second term.

While recent opinion polls suggest that a majority of Americans blame Republicans for the crisis, neither side has yet to gain a clear political advantage from the standoff.

Standoffs escalated further on Friday after the Trump administration dismissed hundreds of government employees, a move widely condemned as politically motivated and unprecedented in modern U.S. governance.

The White House defended the layoffs as part of broader “efficiency measures,” but critics say it was an attempt to pressure Democrats and consolidate control over key agencies.

Several of the terminations were later reversed after widespread confusion within government departments, exposing what observers described as chaotic management inside the administration.

In a bid to control the public narrative, President Trump assured that military personnel would continue to receive pay, presenting himself as a leader defending national security in difficult times.

He accused Democrats of “holding the government hostage”, saying they were using civil servants as bargaining chips.

However, Democrats have countered that narrative, accusing Trump of politicising the civil service and inflicting avoidable hardship on working families.

“This president is trying to turn public service into a political tool,” Senator Mark Kelly said. “It’s an attack on civil servants and the very idea of an independent government.”

Within the Republican camp, signs of internal friction are beginning to show.

While House Speaker Mike Johnson and Vice President JD Vance have maintained that Democrats are to blame for prolonging the shutdown, some lawmakers — including Marjorie Taylor Greene and Kevin Kiley — have criticised their leadership’s refusal to reconvene Congress to negotiate an end to the crisis.

Party insiders warn that the shutdown could deepen divisions within the GOP ahead of next year’s midterm elections, especially if the public continues to associate the crisis with Republican inflexibility.

Across the United States, the economic toll is beginning to bite.

Local businesses dependent on federal contracts are reporting losses, tourism has slowed, and public frustration is mounting, particularly in Washington, D.C., where government operations remain partially paralysed.

Unions representing furloughed workers have staged demonstrations in several cities, demanding that both sides return to the negotiating table.

Economists estimate that the shutdown could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars if it extends into a fourth week.

For now, the standoff shows no sign of easing. Both parties appear determined to hold their ground — each calculating that the other will bear the greater political cost of public anger.

Until one side finds more advantage in compromise than confrontation, the shutdown — and the hardship it inflicts — may continue indefinitely.

Trump, Putin, Zelensky in Diplomatic Crossfire

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House on Friday seeking delivery of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles that could reach deep into Russian territory.

Diaspora Watch reports that the request comes amid growing concerns from Moscow and evolving diplomatic manoeuvres following recent communications between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump had earlier indicated openness to supplying the weapons but expressed hesitation after a phone call with Putin.

“We need them too … we have a lot of them, but we need them,” Trump reportedly said, suggesting that U.S. military stockpiles and domestic priorities may limit what can be shared.

From Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded by calling any transfer of Tomahawks a “serious escalation,” warning of damage to U.S.–Russia relations.

He also emphasized that while these missiles are powerful, they might not fundamentally change the frontline dynamics of the war.

Analysts say that although Tomahawk missiles would enhance Ukraine’s capacity for strikes against high-value military and infrastructure targets, serious logistical problems remain.

Ukraine currently lacks reliable ground-based launch systems for such cruise missiles, and there are questions about how many Tomahawks the U.S. could supply without depleting its own strategic reserves.

The meeting between Zelensky and Trump coincides with plans for a summit between Trump and Putin in Budapest, further complicating the diplomatic calculus.

Some observers view the missile request not only as a military appeal, but also as part of Ukraine’s broader strategy to apply pressure for peace negotiations.