Pakistan’s airstrikes on suspected militant hideouts in Afghanistan’s Paktika province have reignited tensions with Kabul and drawn U.N. condemnation, highlighting the precarious balance between counterterrorism and fragile regional alliances.
Senior security officials have claimed the airstrikes killed at least 20 militants. Kabul’s foreign ministry has denounced the strikes, accusing Pakistan of targeting civilians in a calculated effort to strain bilateral relations. It has alleged many among the casualties were “refugees,” including women and children. The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan echoed Taliban claims of civilian casualties, calling for an impartial investigation to ensure accountability and protect the rights of affected communities.
The reference to “refugees” paradoxically highlights the reasons for Pakistan’s airstrikes. Since their return to power in August 2021, Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban of harboring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. These militants, many with roots in Pakistan’s former tribal regions, have openly declared their intent to carve out territory from Islamabad’s control, using cross-border raids and guerrilla tactics to destabilize the region. For countless families on both sides of the border, the conflict has turned once-quiet homes into battlegrounds, forcing them to endure relentless cycles of fear, displacement, and uncertainty. This has also strained relations between Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban.
The Afghan Taliban, in public statements, deflect responsibility, labeling the TTP Pakistan’s domestic issue. Their failure to dismantle TTP bases within Afghan territory, however, points to either incapacity or complicity.
Pakistan has traditionally seen the Afghan Taliban as a counterbalance to Indian influence in Afghanistan, but a surge in militancy targeting both security forces and civilians has left little choice but to respond. Global dynamics add further complications. The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan created a security vacuum, while neighboring powers like China and Russia are wary of the rising militancy reaching them.
Until Pakistan receives a more favorable response from Afghanistan, the Afghan Taliban will remain both a part of the problem and potentially part of the solution. Peace will not be won by airstrikes alone. It demands bold diplomacy, collective regional resolve, and a reimagined Afghan strategy that prioritizes stability over strategic rivalry. Until this can be achieved, Pakistan’s struggle against the TTP will continue to be a challenge with no easy solutions.