The growing Pakistan Afghanistan tensions are not sudden — they are the result of decades of mistrust, manipulation, and unfulfilled promises. Pakistan has long exercised patience, using diplomacy and restraint even as cross-border terrorism claimed countless innocent lives.
Experts say that if evil is to be eradicated, one must strike at its root — and Pakistan, aware of the causes from the very beginning, has finally decided to act with resolve.
India’s Strategic Role Behind Afghan Hostility
Islamabad has always maintained that Afghanistan’s growing hostility is not ideological but strategic, fueled by India’s covert interference in the western frontier. That invisible hand, long tolerated, was confronted decisively this year when Pakistan took strong measures to counter external aggression and terrorism.
The Pakistan Afghanistan border conflict is thus not an impulsive reaction — it is the result of consistent terrorist attacks carried out by TTP and BLA militants operating from Afghan soil.
State-Backed Terrorism and the UN’s Confirmation
Pakistan’s claims are no longer just allegations. The UN’s 36th Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Report confirmed that the Taliban regime shelters and supports terrorist groups like the TTP and Al-Qaeda. These outfits operate training camps across Kunar, Nuristan, and Paktika, and their militants frequently infiltrate Pakistan under Taliban protection.
This, by definition, amounts to state-backed terrorism.
Pakistan’s Patience Has Limits
For over four decades, Pakistan hosted millions of Afghan refugees, provided education, and advocated for international aid when others abandoned Kabul. Yet, the gratitude it received was bullets, bombings, and betrayal.
Pakistan’s generosity cannot be mistaken for servitude. The government now insists that Afghan nationals must return home and rebuild their country.
“Our patience is vast but not endless,” the piece argues. “Every drop of blood shed by our soldiers and citizens demands accountability.”
Sovereignty Is a Responsibility
Kabul’s repeated refusal to act against terrorists has crossed red lines. Pakistan asserts its right to defend its sovereignty, warning that continued attacks will provoke decisive countermeasures.
Sovereignty, the writer notes, “is not a slogan — it is a responsibility.” When Afghanistan allows its soil to be used for cross-border attacks, it loses moral and legal credibility.
The Path of Peace Still Open
Despite the hostilities, Pakistan remains open to peace. It urges Kabul to fulfill its Doha Agreement commitments, dismantle terror sanctuaries, and prevent groups like the TTP from destabilizing the region.
“It is still not too late,” writes Mohsin Iqbal. “Afghanistan can choose the path of peace — not for Pakistan’s sake, but for its own survival.”
Muhammad Mohsin Iqbal serves as the Director General (Research) at the National Assembly Secretariat, Parliament House, Islamabad. With extensive experience in legislative research and policy analysis.
