Why Pakistan’s Afghan air strikes aren’t stopping armed attacks
Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan struck targets of what it claimed were hideouts of an armed group in three Afghan provinces overnight and summoned Kabul’s envoy on Monday morning, after an assault on a
Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan struck targets of what it claimed were hideouts of an armed group in three Afghan provinces overnight and summoned Kabu
Read Full Story at Al Jazeera →Why This Matters
The recent Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan soil underscore a dangerous escalation in the cross-border conflict between Islamabad and Kabul, potentially destabilizing the fragile security architecture of the region. Beyond the immediate casualties, these strikes signal a breakdown in counterterrorism cooperation, raising fears that both nations are drifting toward a protracted security dilemma where each action provokes a harsher response. For global observers, the incident highlights how unchecked militant sanctuaries in Afghanistan continue to undermine regional stability, despite repeated assurances from Taliban authorities.
Background Context
Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan’s Taliban administration of harboring the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the militant group responsible for deadly attacks inside Pakistan, despite Kabul’s denials. The TTP’s resurgence post-2021 Taliban takeover has intensified Islamabad’s military responses, including drone strikes and diplomatic pressure, yet attacks inside Pakistan have persisted unabated. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s isolation on the international stage has left it increasingly reliant on regional powers like Pakistan, creating a paradox where mutual dependence coexists with escalating hostilities.
What Happens Next
The most immediate risk is a cycle of retaliatory strikes, where each military action—whether Pakistani airstrikes or Afghan border skirmishes—further erodes trust and fuels nationalist rhetoric in both capitals. Diplomatic channels remain fragile, and if Kabul responds with stronger measures against Pakistani proxies or expels Afghan refugees, the humanitarian fallout could dwarf the security concerns. Observers should watch for signs of third-party mediation, particularly from China or the UAE, which have historically played stabilizing roles in Afghan-Pakistani tensions.
Bigger Picture
This episode fits a broader pattern of declining trust between Afghanistan and its neighbors, where ideological alignment (such as the Taliban’s rule) has not translated into cooperative security policies. The trend mirrors similar strains between Kabul and Iran, suggesting that Afghanistan’s isolation may force it to adopt a more assertive, if counterproductive, foreign policy. For Pakistan, the strikes reflect growing frustration with its inability to curb cross-border militancy through diplomacy alone, raising questions about whether military force can ever achieve what sustained negotiations have failed to deliver.
