Heavy fighting broke out Saturday night across the nearly 2,600-kilometer-long Pakistan-Afghanistan border, referred to as the Durand Line. Pakistani posts in retaliation Taliban forces started raiding on Pakistan military posts which initiated the violence. In return, Pakistan immediately escalated. The escalation in hostilities comes amidst rising tensions, particularly due to accusations from Islamabad that Kabul is harboring the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group responsible for numerous attacks on Pakistani soldiers.
Their battle now seems misplaced – as the TTP has been implicated in the deaths of hundreds of Pakistani soldiers since 2021. Intelligence indicates they underwent specialized combat training in Afghanistan. This group has ideological links with the Afghan Taliban, adding an additional layer to the complex and contentious relationship between the two countries. In addition, local news reports have confirmed that the Taliban has captured two Pakistani border posts located along the border in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province. This move has been strongly affirmed by local leaders.
In retaliation, Pakistani forces opened fire on a number of Afghan border outposts. In their counterattacks, the Pakistan Army relied heavily on artillery, tanks, and a mix of light and heavy support weaponry. Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the military spokesperson for Pakistan, corroborated reports of the strikes. He underlined the need to address the immediate needs of Pakistani citizens and protect their lives.
“To protect the lives of the people of Pakistan, we are doing, and will continue to do, whatever is necessary,” – Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry
According to their testimony, the Pakistani government stated that artillery was targeted at four sites across the border after the first Taliban attacks. One official stated, “Tonight, Taliban forces began firing at several border points. We retaliated with artillery at four locations along the border.”
In light of these events, Pakistan has called on the Taliban government to do more. Pakistanis do not want a repeat of Afghan territory being used to orchestrate violence within Pakistan. Heavy fighting in recent weeks has followed a pattern of increasing violence, including high-profile bombings in Afghanistan’s capital and southeastern provinces.
Michael Kugelman, an expert on South Asian affairs with the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, said that what makes the situation especially tenuous is a combination of factors. He stated, “Intensifying cross-border attacks on Pakistani forces, unusually intense Pakistani strikes in Afghanistan, and Taliban retaliations have created a perfect storm for trouble.”
Wielding a bit of cautious optimism, Kugelman said he could see an opening for de-escalation. He proposed that the Taliban sarcastically contain the ability to fight Pakistani military in quality. “Luckily this crisis, though grave, is about to peak and subside in the not too distant future,” he added.
Imtiaz Gul, a prominent regional analyst once described this core anger that goes to the heart of the troubled Pakistan-Afghan relationship. He contextualized the recent violent clashes and their causes as a result of historical injustices. He referred to these tensions as “kinetic attacks” on TTP hideouts, further worsening the environment. As Gul put it, “I think Pakistan’s patience had been wearing thin. And that’s why they largely started to make the decision to take direct action themselves against TTP leaders.
He likewise cautioned that we should perhaps expect only a temporary lull in hostilities. More than that, he insisted, there are no clear winners in this conflict. “And then the cycle could play out again. There are no winners or easy long-term solutions here,” Kugelman added.
The reality of that situation is changing every day, putting both countries at a key turning point. International observers are increasing their pressure on all sides to show restraint and return to dialogue.