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Pakistan-Afghan Taliban: From Allies to Foes? Escalating Cross-Border Conflict
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CNBC TV18•25-09-2026, 18:05
Pakistan-Afghan Taliban: From Allies to Foes? Escalating Cross-Border Conflict
- •Pakistan's air force struck 10 locations in Afghanistan, marking its second round of strikes in four days, following three months of relative quiet along the 2,600-km border.
- •Islamabad claims it targeted militant hideouts in retaliation for drones from Afghanistan, while Kabul denies sending drones and states seven Afghan fatalities were civilians.
- •Initially, Pakistan viewed the Taliban government as an ally in 2021, but frustration grew as militants launched insurgencies in Pakistan's southwest and northwest.
- •Pakistan accuses India and the Afghan Taliban of funding militants and providing safe haven, allegations denied by both the Afghan Taliban and the Indian government.
- •The latest escalation follows two major militant attacks in northwestern Pakistan, killing at least 30 people, including police officials and soldiers, ending a three-month quiet period.
Key Questions Answered
Pakistan's air force struck 10 locations in Afghanistan on September 24, 2026, in retaliation for drones launched from Afghanistan following two major militant attacks in northwestern Pakistan that killed at least 30 people.
Although Islamabad initially applauded the Afghan Taliban's return to power in 2021, relations soured as militant groups like the TTP launched widening insurgencies in Pakistan. Pakistan accused Kabul and India of providing these militants with funds, weapons, and safe havens.
An Islamist militant group named Shura Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen, led by commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur, claimed responsibility for the attack at a police facility in the Kohat district that killed 24 people.
