Jul 01, 2026 17:45 pm IST

Opinion | Pakistan Might Just Be Getting A Bit Too Confident - This Time, With Afghanistan

For Islamabad, its successes at mediation notwithstanding, toppling the Taliban may turn out to be a far more humbling experience. But then Pakistan, strangely, is known to be suicidal in some ways.

Aditi Bhaduri Aditi Bhaduri Columnist

Aditi Bhaduri Columnist

Last night, Afghanistan struck alleged ISIS strongholds in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces in Pakistan. The Taliban Ministry of Defense posted on X that the Afghan air force had carried out strikes on a joint ISIS and "mischief and corruption" centre in the Saranan area of Pishin District, Balochistan". The facility, the post said, "had been used to organise sabotage operations and attacks inside Afghanistan" and "also served as a coordination center for the bombardments in which Afghan civilians were targeted". It further said that the air force had also "struck an ISIS centre in the Qamber Khel area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as another joint ISIS and "mischief and corruption" centre in the Garm Chashma area of the Shah Salim Valley in Chitral". These sites "were likewise being used to plan sabotage operations and attacks against civilians", the post said, adding, "the Afghan Air Defence Forces will continue to target any location used to threaten Afghanistan's security, Insha'Allah".

One can only guess who the words "mischief and corruption centre" alluded to, but on Sunday, Pakistan had carried out strikes in the Afghan provinces of Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar. It confirmed the operation, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar describing it as an "intelligence-based" and "precise" strike targeting hideouts of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants and its breakaway faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar. He said 25 militants were killed and large quantities of weapons and ammunition destroyed in response to recent terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, including a deadly assault in Karachi on Saturday.

A Bloody, Invisible War

Pakistan's attacks were strongly condemned by international organisations. The Taliban said the attacks had, instead, struck civilian homes, killing 36 people and injuring another 163.The UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)........

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