Pakistan–Afghanistan Conflict

Tensions continued to rise between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the wake of airstrikes Pakistan conducted targeting Taliban hideouts in Afghanistan, which Afghanistan condemned as an infringement of its sovereignty. The airstrikes hit the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group that shares ethnic and ideological ties to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Founded in 2007, TTP is committed to forming an Islamic emirate in Pakistan and has committed horrific human tragedies, like the Peshawar school attack in 2014. While Pakistan has perpetuated a policy of aiding the Taliban in Afghanistan for “strategic depth”, this policy has become ineffective as the Taliban in Afghanistan does not negotiate with TTP. 

The thaw in relations between India and the Taliban, along with Afghanistan’s state claim of sovereignty and Pakistan’s own issues, further complicate the relationship. The Afghan conflict strains not just Pakistan’s economy, but it discourages privatization and private investment from China and the Gulf and, importantly, may export terror to a neighbor. For India, it opens the door for renewed engagement with Afghanistan diplomatically and also requires careful navigation of accusations from Pakistan of interference.