Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have reached a boiling point, with fears of escalation to an all-out war after the Taliban deployed troops to the border in response to deadly strikes and rising hostilities.
The Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for launching devastating artillery attacks on Pakistani military positions along the contentious Durand Line, further inflaming an already volatile situation.
According to Taliban officials, multiple Pakistani checkpoints were destroyed, and battalions of fighters have been mobilised to prepare for any retaliation from Islamabad.
The Taliban’s strikes come as retaliation for recent Pakistani airstrikes targeting the position of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, TTP, in eastern Afghanistan.
Afghan officials reported that the airstrikes killed 46 civilians, including women and children, prompting vows of retaliation from the Taliban.
The Afghan government, under the Taliban, accused Pakistan of violating Afghan sovereignty, with one senior Taliban official warning, “We didn’t kick NATO out only to be intimidated or humiliated by Punjabis.”
The Taliban’s Ministry of Defence placed troops on high alert and fortified positions along the border, signalling readiness for prolonged conflict.
Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi cautioned Pakistan, stating, “We will not forget Pakistan’s aggression on Afghan soil today.”
Despite Islamabad’s nuclear capabilities, Taliban officials expressed unwavering confidence in their ability to confront any escalation, with one senior leader asserting, “We have faith and know that God is with us.”
Pakistan now faces a growing threat from both the Afghan Taliban and the TTP, a militant group emboldened by the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
The TTP, allegedly armed with weapons seized from retreating U.S. forces, has intensified attacks on Pakistani soil, complicating Islamabad’s security challenges.
Pakistan had previously supported the Afghan Taliban during the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan, hoping to secure strategic influence. However, the Taliban’s rise to power has backfired, worsening Pakistan’s internal insurgency.
The escalating crisis has drawn international attention, with Russia urging both sides to exercise restraint. Concerns are mounting over the potential for regional instability as tensions between the two neighbours show no signs of de-escalation.
As Taliban forces continue to deploy along the border and Pakistan accuses Kabul of harbouring militants, the situation remains precarious, with both sides bracing for further conflict.
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