The sudden descent into what Pakistan's defence minister has called 'open war' with neighbouring Afghanistan represents one of the most serious escalations in relations between the two countries in years.
For years, tensions along the long and rugged Durand Line border have simmered, characterised by intermittent clashes, militant attacks, and fragile truces. But the latest round of hostilities, headed by Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory and retaliatory strikes by Afghan forces, has shattered that uneasy calm and caused chaos through South Asia.
But what lies behind this confrontation is a mix of deep-rooted grievances, unresolved security dilemmas, and mutual distrust that has grown since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021. The current escalation cannot be understood simply as a spontaneous flare-up. It is the culmination of years of cross-border friction, differences over militant groups, and mounting political frustration on both sides.
Historical Grievances And The Allegation Of Militant Networks
Now the main reasons for the current conflict are the longstanding accusations between Islamabad and Kabul over militant groups operating across their shared border. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan of providing sanctuary to militants who wage attacks inside Pakistan, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP, a separate but ideologically aligned group to the Afghan Taliban, has intensified its insurgency within Pakistan since 2022, carrying out high-profile assaults on security forces and civilian targets. Islamabad insists that these fighters use Afghan territory as a safe haven, a claim that Afghan authorities deny.
In response to alleged attacks on its forces, Pakistan has conducted a series of air and ground strikes inside Afghanistan in recent days. A deadly assault in the Pakistani district of Bajaur, allegedly carried out by a national linked to the TTP, was the immediate trigger for this latest phase of violence. Islamabad reportedly views these militant networks not only as a direct security threat but as a destabilising force spilling violence across its border regions.
The Afghan side, meanwhile, has pushed back against the accusation that it harbours militants targeting Pakistan. The situation is further complicated by the absence of a fully recognised Afghan government in the international system, reducing avenues for direct diplomatic engagement and conflict resolution. It is also to be noted that countries like India have also accused Pakistan itself of sheltering militants and extremists, causing terror.
Now, the new exchanges have not been limited to sporadic border clashes. Pakistan's military has allegedly struck deep into Afghanistan, targeting installations in major cities such as Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia. This represents a massive escalation, changing the conflict from border outposts to urban areas and blurring the lines between counter-militant operations and a full military confrontation. Both sides have offered sharply different casualty figures, with Pakistan claiming scores of Taliban fighters were killed, while Afghan officials assert that dozens of Pakistani soldiers have died in retaliatory attacks.
Where This Leaves Pakistan and Afghanistan
The eruption of open conflict also reflects the failure of diplomatic efforts to sustain relative peace along the frontier. In late 2025, a Qatar and other countries- mediated ceasefire briefly eased violence between the two countries, but that agreement collapsed amid renewed accusations and cross-border firing. Since then, repeated attempts at negotiation have made little headway, leaving a vacuum in which mistrust has grown, and each side's political rhetoric has hardened.
Pakistan's government has responded to the latest attacks with firm political language, declaring that its patience has 'run out' and promising decisive action to safeguard national sovereignty. Senior ministers have condemned what they term 'unprovoked aggression' by Afghan forces and insisted that territorial integrity cannot be compromised.
