KABUL/ISLAMABAD ¨C Afghanistan¡¯s Taliban rulers said on Friday they were willing to negotiate after Pakistan bombed their forces in major cities and said the allies-turned-foes were in ¡°open war.¡±
Pakistan struck the Afghan capital Kabul, the city of Kandahar, where Taliban leaders are based, and other towns, a Taliban spokesman said. The attacks were its first directly targeting Afghanistan¡¯s government over allegations it harbors militants seeking to overthrow the Islamabad government.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said there were civilian casualties on Friday but did not provide details. In Kabul, thick plumes of black smoke rose from two sites and a huge blaze was also visible in video verified by reporters. Witnesses said many ambulance sirens could be heard following loud blasts and the sound of jets on Friday.
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