Tensions Between Pakistan and Taliban Escalate

Relations between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have soured severely, fueled by Islamabad's long-standing support for militant groups and the Taliban's refusal to rein in its allies.

The deteriorating relations have now reached a boiling point after a series of recent incidents, including a Pakistani military operation against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in eastern Afghanistan, which has prompted a massive mobilization of Afghan Taliban forces along the border. The situation has further complicated by the presence of other militant groups, including the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K), which continues to terrorize civilians in Afghanistan. Pakistan's support for the Taliban has had the unintended consequence of creating a volatile force that now poses a significant threat to the country's stability. The leadership in Islamabad has been accused of backing militant groups such as the TTP, which seeks to establish a caliphate across South and Central Asia. Furthermore, the ongoing infighting among Taliban factions has made it difficult for the group to establish a stable government in Afghanistan, leading to further instability in the region. The clashes at the Kurram and North Waziristan border points, in which 14 militants and one soldier were killed, and several others injured, have marked a turning point in the deteriorating relations between Pakistan and the Taliban. In response, the Afghan Taliban government has cancelled plans for a ministerial visit to Islamabad and summoned the Pakistani ambassador, while also calling for a ceasefire with Pakistani forces. Islamabad has welcomed the call for a ceasefire but has insisted that it must be a reciprocal and permanent arrangement. In the meantime, a significant number of Taliban fighters, reportedly over 15,000, are reportedly moving towards the Afghan-Pakistani border with the intention of making a major push to launch a massive attack against Pakistan.