Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan kill at least 13
Pakistan launched new airstrikes in Afghanistan after months of fighting between the two neighbours that killed hundreds.
Pakistan launched new airstrikes in Afghanistan after months of fighting between the two neighbours that killed hundreds. This report comes from Sky
Read Full Story at Sky News →Why This Matters
The escalation in cross-border airstrikes risks drawing Pakistan deeper into Afghanistan’s long-running insurgency, potentially undermining fragile reconciliation efforts and shattering the tenuous calm that has prevailed since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. By targeting militant sanctuaries inside Afghanistan, Islamabad signals a hardline shift that could provoke retaliation, further destabilizing a region already grappling with drought, economic collapse, and a humanitarian crisis.
Background Context
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been strained for decades, but tensions surged after the Taliban takeover when Kabul refused to sever ties with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the group responsible for most attacks inside Pakistan. While Pakistan has conducted intermittent strikes in recent years, the latest raids mark a sharp escalation in both frequency and intensity, coinciding with a surge in TTP attacks along the Durand Line in recent weeks.
What Happens Next
The coming days will reveal whether Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities respond with direct military action or limit retaliation to diplomatic protests, as has been their pattern in past crises. International mediators may scramble to prevent a wider conflict, but their leverage is limited given the Taliban’s isolation and Pakistan’s growing frustration with perceived inaction against the TTP.
Bigger Picture
This confrontation fits a broader pattern of states resorting to military force against militant groups across borders when diplomatic pressure fails—a trend seen in Syria, Iraq, and now South Asia. It also underscores the persistent failure of regional counterterrorism strategies, where sanctuary denial remains a contentious issue even among ideologically aligned governments.
