Pakistan Sends Strong Message to Kabul as Afghan Militancy Fuels Regional Tensions
With diplomatic channels effectively stalled largely due to the Afghan Taliban showing little willingness to curb cross-border militancy the clashes that erupted on Thursday between Pakistan and Afghanistan were hardly surprising. Pakistan has repeatedly warned Kabul to act against militant groups operating from Afghan territory, including TTP and ISKP. However, these warnings went largely unheeded, as attacks on Pakistani civilians and security forces continued.
Against this backdrop, Pakistan launched operations on Feb 22 targeting militant hideouts across the border. Yet the latest clashes suggest that instead of seriously addressing Pakistan’s concerns about violent actors, Kabul has opted for military confrontation, worsening already tense relations. Pakistan responded to what it described as Taliban aggression by striking several military and militant positions inside Afghanistan. Confronted with persistent terrorism and repeated cross-border attacks from territory under Taliban control, Islamabad argued it had little option but to act.
Now that Pakistan has demonstrated its readiness to defend itself and pursue those responsible for violence, both sides should move toward de-escalation. China has called for a ceasefire, while Iran has offered mediation to ease tensions. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has also discussed the situation with counterparts from Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. While Pakistan must safeguard itself from threats, further escalation in an already fragile region would serve no one’s interests. A major obstacle to peace remains the Taliban’s reluctance to confront the militant groups operating on its soil that endanger neighboring states.
Some had believed that the Taliban’s return to power might signal a more pragmatic approach, but those expectations appear misplaced. The movement seems not to have learned from past experience. Previously, its refusal to sever ties with Al Qaeda ultimately contributed to the U.S. invasion and decades of hardship for the Afghan people.
Today, the Taliban risks repeating that history by continuing to tolerate the presence of the TTP and other banned outfits. Pakistan says it has substantial evidence that militants based in Afghanistan have carried out attacks within its borders, while Tajikistan has raised similar concerns. Even Beijing has reportedly conveyed through diplomatic channels that action against violent groups is necessary. The urgent priority now is a ceasefire followed by meaningful negotiations with the responsibility on the Taliban to curb cross-border militancy and help break the cycle of violence.
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