How Pakistan and Afghan Taliban, former allies, drifted into ‘open war’, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia following attacks on Pakistani border posts.
• These events highlight the deteriorating relationship between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban, former allies.
• The core issues straining relations include the Durand Line dispute, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the growing ties between the Taliban and India.
• Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of harboring TTP militants, leading to cross-border strikes and retaliatory actions.

Detailed Insights:

• The Durand Line, a 2,640-km border established in 1893, remains a point of contention as no Afghan government has recognized it since 1973.
• The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), ideologically aligned with the Afghan Taliban, aims to replicate the Afghan Taliban's success in Pakistan's tribal regions.
• Despite the Afghan Taliban brokering a truce in 2022, hostilities between the TTP and Pakistan have resumed, leading to increased attacks and casualties.
• Pakistan's support for the Afghan Taliban was intended to create strategic depth, but the current situation presents security, cross-border, and geopolitical challenges.
• India's engagement with the Taliban, including hosting their Foreign Minister and accepting a diplomatic envoy, has further complicated Pakistan's strategic calculations.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Durand Line: The 2,640-km border between British India and Afghanistan, established in 1893, which remains a disputed boundary.
• Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP): A militant group ideologically aligned with the Afghan Taliban, seeking to establish a similar Islamic Emirate in Pakistan.
• Strategic Depth: A foreign policy concept where a country seeks to extend its influence in neighboring regions for security and strategic advantage.