Taliban Deputy Foreign Minister Naeem Wardak has condemned Pakistan’s recent airstrike on Afghan territory, calling it “cowardly and cruel,” during a meeting with China’s ambassador to Kabul, Zhao Xing.

Wardak said the attacks violated “all human, Islamic, and neighbourly principles,” adding that the Taliban had delivered an “appropriate response.”

In a statement issued after the meeting, the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry said Wardak emphasised that “war is not a solution” and that the Taliban administration seeks “good and positive relations with all neighbouring countries.”

The Chinese ambassador reportedly urged both sides to resolve their differences through dialogue, stressing the importance of regional stability.

Wardak reiterated that the Taliban remains committed to peaceful engagement but warned: “If anyone violates our rights and values, the Afghan nation considers it its legitimate right to defend them, and will do so with dignity.”

The meeting came amid heightened tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan following cross-border airstrikes and armed clashes in recent days.