Pakistan’s position is rooted in sovereignty. No state can
allow armed actors to use neighboring territory as a launching pad for attacks.
Islamabad has consistently maintained that elements targeting Pakistan have
found operational space inside Afghanistan since the return of the Taliban
government in 2021. Kabul rejects this claim, arguing that Pakistan is
deflecting from its internal security challenges. This divergence is not new —
but it is now sharper and more dangerous.
The recent Pakistani air operations inside Afghan territory
must be seen through this security prism. Islamabad describes them as targeted
actions against militant infrastructure, not as aggression against the Afghan
state. The subsequent retaliation along the border elevated tensions to a level
that Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, termed “open war.”
That phrase reflects gravity, not intent for prolonged conflict.
The response from the US Department of State — supporting
Pakistan’s right to defend itself while expressing concern over casualties —
adds geopolitical context but does not define Pakistan’s policy. Islamabad’s
western border challenges are indigenous and longstanding. These predate
Washington’s statements and will persist independent of them.
Strategically, Pakistan faces a classic security dilemma. If
it acts, it risks escalation. If it does not act, it risks emboldening militant
actors. Neither option is cost-free. However, sustained instability on the
western frontier would divert resources from Pakistan’s primary priority -
economic stabilization and internal reform.
It is also important to recognize what this confrontation is
not. It is not a war for territory. It is not a regime-change project. And it
is not in Pakistan’s interest to see Afghanistan destabilized. A chaotic
Afghanistan historically produces security spillovers into Pakistan. Stability
in Kabul, therefore, is aligned with Islamabad’s long-term interests — provided
that stability does not come at the cost of Pakistani lives.
The way forward demands firmness without adventurism.
Pakistan must continue to defend its sovereignty while keeping diplomatic
channels functional. Structured border mechanisms, verifiable counterterrorism
cooperation, and sustained political engagement are essential.
For Pakistan, the equation is straightforward: security
first, escalation last. Strategic maturity lies in deterring threats without
sliding into prolonged confrontation. The western border must not become a
permanent battleground — it must become a managed frontier built on
accountability and realism.
