Pakistan’s deadly airstrikes on Kabul have exposed deep flaws in its Afghan strategy, highlighting strategic miscalculations, rising internal threats, and widening regional consequences
An alleged Pakistani airstrike on Kabul’s Umid addiction treatment hospital killed over 400 people and injured at least 250, with Taliban officials blaming Pakistan and international figures expressing concern over rising civilian casualties and escalating tensions.
Ongoing military conflict with Afghanistan has its roots in Islamabad’s duplicitous policy on terrorism: nurturing ‘good terrorists’ to target India while fighting ‘bad terrorists’ who, it alleges, are trained in Afghanistan
Pakistani and Afghan forces exchanged heavy fire at the Chaman border late Friday, with both sides blaming each other for the clash. Three people were injured, and no official statements have been released amid rising tensions over cross-border militancy.
Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi accused Pakistan of attempting to impose “mysterious projects” on Kabul and pressuring the Taliban administration through border closures, trade restrictions and security demands, amid escalating tensions following Pakistani air strikes that killed civilians in Afghan provinces.
At least ten civilians, including nine children, were killed after Pakistani forces struck a residential home in Khost province, Afghanistan. The attack follows escalating cross-border tensions, with separate strikes injuring four more civilians in Kunar and Paktika.
Peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban government in Istanbul have collapsed after four days, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of harboring militants behind cross-border attacks. The breakdown threatens to renew tensions despite a ceasefire brokered by Qatar earlier this month.
Pakistan and Afghanistan will hold the second round of talks in Istanbul on Saturday to ease border tensions and curb cross-border terrorism. The dialogue, facilitated by Qatar and Turkiye, follows the Doha meeting that restored temporary calm along the frontier.
Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire after a week of deadly border clashes, Qatar said. The truce follows Pakistani airstrikes in Paktika that killed civilians, triggering Taliban condemnation and diplomatic mediation by Qatar and Turkey.
Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir warned Afghanistan to “choose between peace and chaos,” demanding action against terrorists using its soil. His comments followed fresh Pakistani air strikes in Afghanistan after a deadly TTP attack in North Waziristan.
Pakistan’s escalating conflict with Afghanistan threatens to spiral into a long-term crisis, analysts warn, as Islamabad seeks to assert military dominance while risking internal rebellion, Taliban backlash, and friction with China over its CPEC investments.
