Offensive Resumes

March 27, 2026

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Now that Eid is over, Pakistan’s Foreign Office has indicated that Operation Gazl-e-Haq against the Afghan Taliban will resume until its objectives are achieved. While many had presumed that this pause for the Eid holiday and festivities would turn into a longer ceasefire between the two sides, that assumption has been proven incorrect. It appears that Pakistan, after years of hesitance, has now decided to move decisively to dismantle the capability of Afghan territory to support militant outfits that infiltrate Pakistan and target its people.

If the Afghan Taliban refuse to give up elements of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, as well as operatives linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda, then those within the Afghan Taliban who are facilitating these elements must be targeted as well. Pakistan’s attacks so far have been extremely precise, focusing on military positions, training sites, ammunition depots, and border patrol points. This calibrated approach must continue.

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Pakistan must continue hitting the Taliban where it hurts, degrading their capabilities in real time and ensuring that in no future will they be able to target Pakistan as they have done before. Alongside this, Pakistan should also speed up the process of repatriation of Afghan refugees living inside Pakistan. With the Torkham border crossing open and people stranded on each side allowed to cross, Pakistan should now also seek to accelerate deportations.

Many attacks inside Pakistan are coordinated from the colonies of Afghan refugees, who then become collaborators with their compatriots travelling from across the border. Pakistan's security depends on a strong response. While Pakistan should pace itself based on its needs and requirements, it must remain vigilant and continue the offensive to ensure that Afghanistan understands that its reign of terror across Pakistan cannot continue any longer.

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