Pakistan’s military recently conducted airstrikes inside Afghanistan, targeting civilian populations under the guise of counterterrorism efforts. These strikes, purported as security operations, aim to pressure the Taliban government and showcase resolve to Western audiences, as per a report.
Reports highlight cross-border drone activities between Afghanistan and Pakistan, particularly focusing on alleged hideouts of the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), also known as ISIS-K or Daesh Khorasan. Pakistan’s strategy of countering the Taliban through other terror proxies in the region has led to increased instability in South Asia.
The report emphasizes the growing links between Pakistan’s military establishment and ISKP, indicating a calculated move to pressure the Afghan Taliban and Baloch insurgents. This development, driven not by ideological alignment but strategic calculations, raises concerns for international attention due to its potential global implications.
Pakistan’s military’s cultivation of ISKP is seen as a response to the deteriorating relations with the Afghan Taliban since August 2021. With escalating cross-border skirmishes and increased militant activities, Pakistan’s security establishment has resorted to a coercive “hard state” policy, exacerbating tensions with Pashtun and Baloch populations.
In light of these challenges, the report calls for a vigilant international response, urging Western governments providing aid to Pakistan to condition assistance on verifiable actions against ISKP networks. Controlling the growing instability in South Asia is crucial to prevent wider consequences for global security.
