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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan continues robust security operations along its western border as regional dynamics shift, following India&rsquo;s engagement with Afghanistan&rsquo;s Taliban government, according to a report by the International Crisis Group (ICG).&nbsp;The annual conflict assessment, titled &ldquo;Ten Conflicts to Watch in 2026&rdquo;, highlights Pakistan&rsquo;s strategic position in South Asia after two separate military confrontations in 2025, first with India in April, then with Afghanistan in October.&nbsp;The report underscores ongoing cross-border militancy, noting that over 600 Pakistani security personnel were killed last year, primarily in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces bordering Afghanistan.&nbsp;Islamabad attributes these attacks to militants operating from Afghan territory, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) elements.&nbsp;While the Taliban publicly deny the presence of Pakistani militants in Afghanistan, officials acknowledge that controlling all movement across the 2,570-kilometer border remains challenging, the ICG notes.&nbsp;In October, cross-border incidents prompted Pakistan to conduct limited operations against militant targets, and coordinated regional diplomacy through T&uuml;rkiye and Qatar helped establish a temporary ceasefire.&nbsp;The ICG report also observes that Taliban-India engagement has heightened Pakistan&rsquo;s strategic focus on the region. Pakistan&rsquo;s intelligence and military authorities continue to monitor developments closely, ensuring cross-border threats are contained while maintaining readiness for counterterrorism operations.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s history of supporting Afghan stability, including sheltering Taliban leaders during their insurgency against the US-backed government, underscores Islamabad&rsquo;s ongoing commitment to regional security.&nbsp;The ICG report stresses that Pakistan&rsquo;s proactive measures aim to prevent militant groups from exploiting porous borders and to maintain calm along its western frontier.&nbsp;In addition to western border challenges, Pakistan faced tensions with India following the April 2025 Pahalgam incident in Indian-occupied Kashmir, which led to retaliatory strikes by both sides.&nbsp;The report calls these confrontations the most serious escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors in years. Pakistani authorities have since worked closely with international partners to stabilize the situation, while continuing to strengthen defense preparedness.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan remains vigilant in safeguarding its borders and countering cross-border threats,&rdquo; the assessment notes, citing Islamabad&rsquo;s measured and strategic response. Officials emphasize that regional stability depends on continuous cooperation, intelligence coordination, and robust security measures along sensitive border areas.&nbsp;The ICG&rsquo;s annual watchlist identifies South Asia as a critical flashpoint in 2026, highlighting the importance of Pakistan&rsquo;s proactive counterterrorism and border security operations in maintaining regional peace.

India

Afghanistan

The ICG report highlights South Asia’s 2025 conflicts, cross-border militancy, Afghanistan-India engagement, and regional flashpoints, warning that instability could escalate if underlying tensions remain unaddressed in 2026.

Pakistan strengthens border security amid Taliban-India regional developments

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan and India on Thursday agreed to &ldquo;create a joint chamber of commerce, and address outstanding issues related to [Iran&#39;s] Chabahar Port to strengthen trade and transit collaboration&rdquo; between the two countries, a statement issued by Afghanistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Industry and Commerce said. Afghanistan&rsquo;s Interim Commerce Minister Nooruddin Azizi arrived in New Delhi yesterday to advance bilateral trade and investment cooperation with India upon the invitation of the government. The commerce minister&#39;s visit comes after interim Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited India in October on a five-day trip. The diplomatic visit between the two countries comes amid heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, which has strained relations. In a post on X on Thursday, the commerce ministry said that India and Afghanistan have agreed on steps to boost trade cooperation and to revitalize Chabahar linkages.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=e30%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1991479197483909249&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=19c9b982687b2f032373d995435efdfa1d18584d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&ldquo;Azizi met with India&rsquo;s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar in New Delhi to discuss expanding economic cooperation between the two countries,&rdquo; the statement said. It said that the two sides held detailed discussions on &ldquo;enhancing the operational capacity of the Chabahar Port, appointing new commercial attach&eacute;s, and improving visa facilitation for members of Afghanistan&rsquo;s private sector.&rdquo; &ldquo;Both delegations agreed to reactivate the previously established joint working group, create a joint chamber of commerce, and address outstanding issues related to the Chabahar Port in order to strengthen trade and transit collaboration,&rdquo; it added.

Interim Afghanistan Commerce Minister Azizi is in New Delhi to advance bilateral trade and investment cooperation with India upon the invitation of the government.

Articles tagged with "India Afghanistan relations"

Pakistan strengthens border security amid Taliban-India regional developments

India, Afghanistan agree to create joint commerce chamber, address Chabahar Port issues