US says it supports Pakistan's right to defend itself against 'terrorist attacks'

The U.S. says it "supports Pakistan's right to defend itself" as intermittent clashes with Afghanistan's Taliban continue.
Recent cross-border airstrikes and exchanges have killed dozens of civilians, and Pakistan says it shot down multiple drones.
Pakistan — a nuclear-armed U.S. ally — accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants; the Taliban deny this and point to Pakistan's internal security issues.