Open war

2026-02-28 - 23:43

THERE are all indications that the lingering conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan has turned into an open war and normalization is linked to the willingness of the Kabul regime to address genuine security concerns of Islamabad. It has firmly been conveyed to the Afghan Taliban that they will have to choose between Pakistan and terrorist outfits and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has talked about a “zero-tolerance” policy towards the alliance between the Afghan Taliban regime and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan group. The PM categorically declared that actions of the Afghan Taliban regime and Fitna al-Khawarij against Pakistan are unacceptable. What the Prime Minister said was not a mere verbal warning as Pakistan demonstrated its commitment to wipe out terrorists and their masters by initiating comprehensive retaliatory strikes inside Afghanistan targeting terrorist hideouts and their supporting infrastructure. There is a consensus in Pakistan that the threat emanating from across the Western border will have to be decimated once for all in view of brazen terrorist attacks inside Pakistan. President Asif Ali Zardari has warned that anyone who mistakes Pakistan’s pursuit of peace for weakness will face a strong, comprehensive and decisive response, stressing that no one would be beyond the reach of the nation’s defence forces. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized that the people and the defence forces of Pakistan remain fully prepared to protect the nation’s security and territorial integrity. As distinction between the Kabul regime and terrorist outfits has blurred, military spokesperson Lt General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry emphatically stated that the defence forces will go after both terrorists and their masters. The General was more specific when he said Pakistan would hold the Afghan Taliban regime accountable for any attack originating from Afghan soil adding “If there is any attack inside Pakistan, we will go after the Afghan Taliban.” Kabul’s support for terrorists was highlighted by the fact that Pakistan carefully targeted the hideouts of Fitna Al Khwarij along the border; however, the Afghan Taliban regime, which is the master proxy of all these proxies operating from Afghanistan, came into action on Thursday night opening fire along with raids at 53 locations in 15 sectors on the border. The vigilant Pakistan forces not only repulsed these attacks successfully but also inflicted massive harm on the enemy. At least 297 Afghan Taliban, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) members and terrorists were killed and over 450 injured; 135 Afghan Taliban regime tanks and armoured personnel carriers had been destroyed, while 29 locations across Afghanistan were subjected to aerial strikes. The nation salutes to its brave sons who offered supreme sacrifices or sustained injuries during hostilities on the western border. Their sacrifices will not go waste as the defence forces with the full backing of the nation are determined to take the ongoing fight to its logical conclusion. There are already indications that the swift and robust action by Pakistan against both the Afghan Taliban and TTP terrorists has forced the Kabul regime to review its existing policy of lending a deaf ear to Pakistan’s demand for action to stop bloodshed of innocent people. Media reports say during his talks with the junior Qatari Foreign Minister, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said his country was ready for dialogue. Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid echoed that sentiment, saying “now also we want to resolve this matter through dialogue”. As some friendly countries have once again become active to help prevent further escalation of the conflict, talks remain a possibility but it is now clear that these will have to be result-oriented. The Afghan Taliban have become an anti-Pakistan tool in the hands of India but they must realize that neighbours cannot be changed and peaceful co-existence is the only option.