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There was a virtual sense of jubilation among those in power in Islamabad when the Taliban returned to power after the end of America’s longest war in Afghanistan in August 2021. There was a strong view that a friendly government would help secure peace in the country’s long troubled western borders.

But the euphoria soon vanished with the return of militant violence in the country, with its roots across the border presenting the most serious threat to national security. Rising tensions between the two countries have now turned Pakistan’s western border hot. It has gone well beyond the war of words.

The latest air strikes by Pakistan targeting militant sanctuaries across the border and retaliatory artillery fires by Afghan Taliban forces have turned the situation extremely volatile. Escalating tension with the Taliban regime presents the biggest national security and foreign policy challenge for the newly installed government in Islamabad that is still to find its feet on the ground amid political instability.

Pakistan seems to be losing patience with the Kabul regime, refusing to take action against the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which is blamed for the terror attacks. According to Pakistani officials 5000 to 6000 TTP fighters are based in Afghanistan. Last........

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