Editorial
Tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border have once again flared up, raising alarms about a potential new phase of instability in the region. In the past few days, reports have emerged of fierce skirmishes and exchanges of fire between Pakistani and Afghan forces across the Durand Line. Both sides have claimed tactical gains, while the situation remains tense and fluid.
According to Afghan officials, their forces launched retaliatory strikes after Pakistan allegedly conducted air operations inside Afghan territory targeting hideouts of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Although Islamabad has not officially confirmed any such airstrikes, several credible media outlets have reported that key TTP leaders were killed in these operations. If true, it would mark one of the most significant anti-terror actions taken in recent months.
However, while these strikes may have achieved tactical success, the strategic implications are far more complex. The latest confrontation is not only a serious escalation but also a reminder of how fragile peace remains along Pakistan’s western border. With an already tense eastern border with India, a new front opening in the west poses a serious challenge to Pakistan’s security calculus and overall stability.
Pakistan’s security establishment has long maintained that it cannot afford hostilities on both its eastern and western borders simultaneously. Historically, Pakistan’s western flank had been considered “soft” compared to the heavily militarized Line of Control (LoC) with India. However, since the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in August 2021, relations between Islamabad and Kabul have deteriorated sharply.
Instead of ensuring that Afghan soil is not used against Pakistan, the Taliban-led government has repeatedly failed to rein in the TTP a group responsible for countless attacks inside Pakistan. Over the past year, TTP’s presence and operations in border regions have grown, leading Pakistan to lose patience. The recent alleged airstrikes may have been a response to repeated cross-border attacks targeting Pakistani security personnel and civilians.
Yet, the Afghan reaction both military and diplomatic shows that the situation is spinning out of control. Kabul accused Pakistan of violating its sovereignty and warned of “serious consequences.” In response, Pakistan reiterated that it reserves the right to defend itself from terrorism emanating from Afghan soil.
What complicates matters further is India’s growing involvement in the evolving situation. Just days before the border clashes, the Afghan Foreign Minister visited New Delhi. During the visit, the Afghan minister made statements suggesting that “terrorism is Pakistan’s internal issue” a remark that clearly aligns with India’s longstanding narrative. Even more provocatively, the joint statement issued after the meeting mentioned Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India a position that directly contradicts Pakistan’s stance and the United Nations resolutions on the dispute.
These developments were received with anger and disappointment in Islamabad. Pakistan’s Foreign Office strongly condemned the statement, calling it “an attempt to distort historical facts.” It accused both India and the Afghan government of politicizing regional peace and undermining Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns.
For Islamabad, the timing of these developments is especially troubling. India’s strategic outreach to the Afghan Taliban regime despite earlier tensions appears designed to exploit Pakistan’s growing difficulties on the western border. By engaging Kabul diplomatically and economically, New Delhi seems to be creating space for itself in a region where it had lost ground after 2021.
At a time when Pakistan faces multiple internal and external challenges, a measured and strategic response is crucial. Escalation with Afghanistan would only weaken Pakistan’s position and play directly into India’s hands. A two-front confrontation would stretch Pakistan’s military and economic capacities, creating room for adversaries to exploit its vulnerabilities.
While Pakistan must defend itself against terrorism, it should also prioritize diplomatic engagement and back-channel communication with Kabul. The focus should be on dismantling terrorist sanctuaries through coordinated mechanisms rather than unilateral actions that risk broader conflict.
Islamabad’s approach must combine firmness with restraint ensuring that its territorial sovereignty is protected, but without giving enemies the opportunity to isolate or portray Pakistan as an aggressor.
Perhaps the most pressing concern is not just the external threat, but Pakistan’s growing internal divisions. Political polarization, economic uncertainty, and governance paralysis have eroded national unity at a time when cohesion is most needed.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, for example, the ongoing dispute over government formation continues to create instability. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) enjoys clear majority support in the province, and delaying or denying it the right to form government only fuels resentment and weakens administrative control especially critical in a region most vulnerable to cross-border militancy.
Similarly, in Punjab, the TLP’s protest in Lahore has paralyzed civic life and disrupted movement across major routes. Such internal unrest diverts security forces’ attention from the more pressing threats on the borders. The government must engage all political and religious stakeholders through dialogue and resolve these issues urgently.
Ultimately, Pakistan’s resilience depends on its internal stability and the legitimacy of its political institutions. Transparent, credible, and timely elections across the country are essential to restore public trust and create a government that truly represents the will of the people. Only a legitimate and stable government can take bold decisions on security and foreign policy with national consensus.
The lesson from history is clear: Pakistan’s enemies thrive on its divisions. When the political class is divided, and institutions pull in different directions, external forces find the opportunity to destabilize the country further.
Pakistan must therefore act on multiple fronts strengthening its defense, reinforcing diplomacy, and rebuilding domestic consensus. The ongoing skirmishes with Afghanistan are not just a border issue; they are a symptom of a deeper strategic challenge that requires both military readiness and political maturity.
At a time when regional alliances are shifting and India is trying to exploit every opportunity, Pakistan’s best defense lies in unity, stability, and strategic foresight. Escalation on the western border may bring short-term satisfaction, but it will carry long-term costs. The need of the hour is clear: national cohesion, transparent governance, and disciplined diplomacy.
