In recent months, rising tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban-led Afghanistan have underscored a stark reality: the Taliban regime poses a serious security threat not only to Pakistan but to the broader South Asia region. This threat is rooted in militant safe havens, cross-border violence, and an ideology that emboldens terrorism.
Clashes at the Pakistan–Afghanistan Border
Recent clashes along the Durand Line, the disputed frontier separating Pakistan and Afghanistan, have once again escalated fears of broader destabilisation. Pakistani authorities report that Afghan Taliban forces initiated unprovoked firing at Pakistani positions in the Torkham and Tirah sectors, prompting an immediate and decisive response by Pakistan’s security forces.
According to official Pakistani sources:
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The Afghan Taliban regime opened fire across multiple points on the border.
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Pakistan’s forces responded promptly and effectively to silence the aggression.
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Islamabad emphasised that any further provocations would be met with even stronger counter-measures.
This confrontation reflects a broader pattern of violence that has grown over the last year and threatens to destabilise not just Pakistan but the entire South Asian region.
Why Pakistan Views the Taliban Regime as a Threat
Safe Havens for Militants
A major concern for Pakistan has been the use of Afghan territory by militant groups hostile to Islamabad’s security. Pakistani authorities allege that groups like the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other affiliated factions operate from bases inside Afghanistan, carrying out attacks on Pakistani soil.
This isn’t Islamabad’s isolated claim:
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The United Nations Security Council Monitoring Team’s 37th report highlighted that Afghanistan under the Taliban has not brought stability but instead has become a refuge for terrorist organisations.
Such safe havens provide militants with:
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Freedom of movement
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Logistics and strategic depth
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Points of planning for cross-border operations
These realities make Pakistan’s security fears legitimate — because uncontrolled sanctuaries embolden terror groups capable of striking across borders.
Cross-Border Violence: Unprovoked and Escalatory
The recent escalation is not an isolated incident. Analysts and security experts have repeatedly warned that Taliban-associated forces have engaged in cross-border hostilities that risk a wider confrontation.
Pakistan’s consistent position is that:
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Taliban authorities have failed to take credible action against militant outfits operating from Afghan soil.
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These groups are responsible for suicide bombings and armed assaults inside Pakistan, including attacks that target civilian sites and security forces — an intolerable breach of sovereignty.
This dynamic fuels reciprocal insecurity, where Pakistan feels compelled to respond militarily to ensure the safety of its citizens and territorial integrity.
Broader Regional Implications and Destabilisation
What begins as bilateral friction has significant implications for the wider region. Experts and security observers have noted that Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions could destabilise South Asia in several ways:
A Spillover of Terrorism
Persistent militant operations from Afghan soil jeopardise not only Pakistan’s security but also regional peace, encouraging extremist networks to exploit power vacuums.
Weakening Regional Cooperation
Conflict undermines efforts at stability across South Asia. A stable Afghanistan is crucial for:
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Trade linkages
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Economic connectivity
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Cooperative counter-terror frameworks
Without it, South Asia remains vulnerable to fragmentation and political isolation.
Strained International Mediation and Influence
With powers like China seeking to balance influence in Afghanistan and Pakistan — particularly through initiatives like the Belt and Road — tensions complicate strategic calculations across the continent.
Pakistan’s Defensive Response: Sovereignty and Security
Pakistan’s strategy in dealing with perceived threats from the Taliban regime has followed a dual path:
Military Preparedness and Precision Operations
In response to hostile actions and continued militant threats, Pakistan has conducted precision strikes against terrorist hideouts on Afghan territory — targeting known militant infrastructure to preempt further attacks.
Border Defence and Territorial Integrity
Pakistan remains clear: it will protect its border and citizens, regardless of diplomatic complexities. Statements from Islamabad stress that responding to aggression is essential to uphold sovereignty and deter future threats.
This posture springs from the understanding that mere diplomatic warnings are insufficient in the face of persistent cross-border security threats.
Diplomatic Calls for Accountability
Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Taliban authorities to take verifiable action against militant groups operating within Afghanistan. The demand is simple:
No support, sanctuary, or safe haven for terrorists targeting Pakistan.
Yet, according to Islamabad, the Taliban regime has failed to implement meaningful measures to dismantle terrorist networks, creating a security vacuum that emboldens extremists.
Is the Taliban Regime an Ongoing Threat to South Asia?
From Islamabad’s perspective — supported by independent security analyses and international monitoring — the answer is yes.
The factors driving this conclusion include:
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Continued militant sanctuaries in Afghan territory
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Cross-border violence and unprovoked attacks
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Taliban’s failure to curb extremist groups
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Persistent risk of escalation affecting regional peace and security
While some argue for diplomatic engagement and conflict de-escalation, Pakistan maintains that real peace can only be achieved when Afghanistan’s soil is no longer used to threaten neighbouring states.
Regional Stability Depends on Containing the Threat
The current Pakistan-Afghanistan clashes are more than a border dispute. They reflect a deeper challenge: the Taliban regime’s inability — or unwillingness — to prevent extremist networks from operating freely within its domain.
That failure poses a direct threat to Pakistan’s security and, by extension, South Asian stability. For peace and prosperity to thrive in the region, Afghanistan must confront the reality that regional cooperation and security cannot coexist with unrestrained militancy and impunity.
Only then can South Asia move past decades of conflict and begin building a future free from the shadows of terrorism and cross-border instability.
