Airstrikes and Retaliation Escalate Conflict
After months of relative calm along the 2,600-kilometre mountainous border, violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan sharply intensified this week. Pakistan launched airstrikes on Kabul and other cities early Friday, calling it “open war” after Taliban forces attacked Pakistani border posts.
Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Islamabad’s patience with the Taliban had “run out.” Pakistan’s military reported that Operation Ghazab lil Haq (“Righteous Fury”) killed 133 Taliban fighters and struck key installations in Kabul and Kandahar, home to Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. The Afghan Taliban confirmed airstrikes in three provinces and said they were retaliating against Pakistani positions. Afghan officials reported eight soldiers killed, while Pakistani forces reportedly captured several border posts and raised their national flag.
Historical and Security Roots of the Conflict
At the core of the dispute is Pakistan’s accusation that the Taliban shelters Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, who regularly launch attacks inside Pakistan. The TTP, formed in 2007, aims to overthrow the Pakistani government and impose its interpretation of Islamic law. The group carried out more than 1,000 violent incidents in Pakistan during 2025.
While formally separate, the TTP maintains ideological and social links with the Afghan Taliban. Pakistan also faces threats from the Balochistan Liberation Army, which has increased activity along the border. The Durand Line remains a point of tension, with Afghanistan refusing to formally recognize it, claiming it unfairly divides the Pashtun population.
Regional Dynamics and the India Factor
Analysts suggest Pakistan’s growing frustration is compounded by Kabul’s perceived closeness to New Delhi. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Asif accused the Taliban of turning Afghanistan “into a colony of India” while neglecting regional stability. He warned that Pakistan’s “cup of patience has overflowed” after decades of hosting Afghan refugees.
The Taliban rejected these claims, insisting Afghan territory has not been used to attack Pakistan and describing the TTP conflict as an internal matter. Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, Pakistan has conducted six airstrikes inside Afghanistan. Despite a Qatar-mediated ceasefire in October 2025 and subsequent peace talks, intermittent clashes have continued, leaving the region on edge as both sides prepare for possible further escalation.
