Pakistan launched air strikes on cities in neighbouring Afghanistan on Friday, in a major escalation after months of attacks and cross-border strikes along their porous frontier.

Pakistan information minister on Friday confirmed that three cities, all in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, were targeted by Taliban drone attacks, claiming that no one was harmed.

Global powers have urged restraint as China, Russia, Iran and the United Nations pressed Pakistan and Afghanistan to immediately halt cross-border attacks and pursue diplomacy amid rising tensions.

Iran offered to help facilitate dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan after Islamabad declared the neighbours at "open war", carrying out air strikes on Kabul following border clashes.

Multiple explosions shook the Afghan capital, Kabul, and several other regions early Friday morning as Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged military strikes across their volatile border, accusing each other of escalating the conflict.

Defense Minister Asif has said his country is at “open war” with its western neighbor

Airstrikes inside Afghanistan and heavy border clashes mark one of the most serious escalations in recent years.

In a historic and unprecedented moment, Prince Andrew became the first senior British royal in nearly 400 years to be arrested. The move signals a profound shift in accountability within the monarchy.

Pakistan launched strikes on Taliban targets across major Afghan cities, prompting retaliatory attacks and claims of heavy casualties from both sides.