Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s military carried out strikes on Monday&nbsp;targeting Afghan Taliban and Fitna al Khawarij (T<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/ttptaliban-nexus-exposed-as-attacks-and-retaliation-mirror-each-other" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">ehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan</a>) positions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, and destroyed an ammunition depot at the Shaheen Base in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/over-70-militants-of-gul-bahadur-group-eliminated-in-strikes-security-officials" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Paktika</a>, Radio Pakistan reported, quoting security officials. The military also destroyed an Afghan Taliban post near Shawal Valley in South Waziristan, in northwestern Pakistan. The operations are part of Pakistan&#39;s Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, a campaign launched on Feb. 26 in response to repeated cross-border attacks from Afghanistan that have killed several Pakistani civilians. The operation aims to dismantle infrastructure in Afghanistan that is used to launch cross-border attacks into Pakistan. On Sunday, Pakistan&#39;s Information Minister <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-kills-583-taliban-combatants-as-border-operation-enters-day-ten" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Attaullah Tarar</a> said Pakistani forces had carried out sustained strikes on terrorist positions across Afghanistan as part of a coordinated response. In a single day, 242 Taliban checkposts were destroyed; 38 additional posts were captured and subsequently destroyed by Pakistani forces.

Pakistan military destroyed an Afghan Taliban post near Shawal valley in South Waziristan, in northwestern Pakistan on March 9, 2026. (Radio Pakistan)

Security

Pakistan’s military destroyed an ammunition depot at Shaheen Base in Paktika, Afghanistan, targeting Taliban and TTP positions. The operation is part of Operation Ghazab lil Haq.

Pakistan military destroys Afghan Taliban ammunition depot in cross-border strikes

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has conducted precision airstrikes on seven terrorist camps and hideouts along the Pakistan&ndash;Afghanistan border in response to a series of suicide bombings inside the country, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Pakistan said early Sunday. In an official statement, the ministry said the strikes targeted camps linked to Fitna al Khwarij, Pakistan&rsquo;s term for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), groups Islamabad says were responsible for recent attacks on Pakistani soil. The ministry said the operations were launched after authorities established the involvement of these groups in multiple suicide bombings, including the attack on an imambargah in Islamabad, as well as incidents in the northwestern districts of Bajaur and Bannu during the holy month of Ramadan. A further suicide bombing in Bannu earlier this week heightened security concerns, officials said. According to the ministry, responsibility for the attacks was claimed by Afghanistan-based elements of Fitna al Khwarij and ISKP, with investigations linking the attackers to leadership and handlers operating from across the border. &ldquo;Pakistan has always strived for maintaining peace and stability in the region, but at the same time the safety and security of our citizens remains our top priority,&rdquo; the ministry said. The strikes come after recent rounds of diplomatic engagement between Pakistan and Afghanistan failed last year to produce concrete measures to halt cross-border militant activity. Islamabad said multiple rounds of talks in Doha and Istanbul sought to secure commitments from the Taliban authorities to prevent Afghan territory from being used by groups such as Fitna al Khwarij and ISKP to plan and execute attacks inside Pakistan. According to the ministry, &ldquo;despite repeated discussions, the Afghan side did not undertake substantive action, leaving Pakistan with no option but to take intelligence-based military measures to protect its citizens and national security.&rdquo; The ministry described the strikes as a &ldquo;retributive response,&rdquo; adding that the intelligence-based operations were carried out with precision and accuracy to disrupt militant infrastructure and prevent further attacks. Pakistan reiterated its demand that Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim government fulfil its obligations to ensure its soil is not used for terrorism against other countries, including commitments under the Doha Agreement. Islamabad also called on the international community to play a constructive role by urging the Taliban authorities to honour those commitments, saying such steps are essential for regional and global peace and security. The ministry said Pakistan remains committed to stability in the region but will continue to act decisively to safeguard its citizens and national security. Further updates will be issued as the situation develops.

Information Ministry says the targeted camps were associated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). They were hit after Pakistan confirmed their involvement in recent terrorist attacks.

Pakistan conducts precision border strikes after deadly terrorist attacks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office on Thursday summoned Afghanistan&rsquo;s deputy head of mission and lodged a strong protest over a terrorist attack in Bajaur that resulted in the martyrdom of 11 Pakistani soldiers. It said the attack was carried out by Fitna al-Khawarij, referring to the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a terrorist group that operates from Afghan territory with its leadership based there. According to the Foreign Office, the government condemned &ldquo;in strongest possible terms&rdquo; the vehicle-borne suicide bombing followed by a fire assault on a military and law enforcement post in the district. He said Pakistan has received repeated assurances from the Afghan Taliban regime but has not seen concrete action. Andrabi said Pakistan called on the Afghan Taliban regime to take immediate and verifiable steps against all militant groups operating from its territory, including their leadership. He stated that Pakistan informed the Afghan Taliban regime that it reserves the right to act against members of the Fitna al-Khawarij group and their affiliates wherever they are located to protect its soldiers, civilians, and territorial boundaries. Separately, while speaking to the media, the foreign office said that the country&rsquo;s patience was &ldquo;obviously not unlimited&rdquo; when it came to Afghanistan&rsquo;s actions, adding that the country reserved the right &ldquo;of any action in our right to self-defense.&rdquo; Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that there was &ldquo;no positive response from Afghanistan to Pakistan&#39;s very legitimate demands that Afghan territory should not be used for terrorism inside Pakistan.&rdquo; &ldquo;So as long as this demand is not met, while exercising patience, all options would obviously remain on table,&rdquo; adding that &ldquo;we cannot let our people to be killed mercilessly.&rdquo;

The photograph shows the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Islamabad, Pakistan. (File Photo: PTV)

Foreign Affairs

Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said officials told the Afghan Taliban representative that the attack was carried out by Fitna al-Khawarij, referring to the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, a terrorist group that operates from Afghan territory with its leadership based there.

Pakistan delivers strong demarche to Afghan diplomat after Bajaur terrorist attack 

ISLAMABAD: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operating from Afghan territory, could evolve into an extra-regional threat if it deepens cooperation with Al Qaeda-aligned groups, the United Nations Security Council&rsquo;s latest monitoring report has warned.&nbsp;In its 37th report, covering July to December 2025, the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team said some member states expressed concern that the TTP may expand its targeting ambitions beyond Pakistan, particularly if collaboration with transnational jihadist networks intensifies.&nbsp;The report states that Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto authorities continue to provide a &ldquo;permissive environment&rdquo; for terrorist groups. While several violent factions remain active, the Monitoring Team noted that the TTP enjoys greater operational latitude and support compared with others &mdash; a dynamic linked to a marked surge in <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/four-facilitators-of-islamabad-mosque-attacker-afghan-mastermind-arrested-security-sources" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">attacks against Pakistan</a>.&nbsp;&ldquo;De facto authorities continued to provide a permissive environment for a range of terrorist groups, notably Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan,&rdquo; the report states, endorsing Islamabad&rsquo;s long-standing complaints that terrorists are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-uncovers-afghanistanbased-terror-network-as-attacks-mount" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">using Afghan territory as a safe haven</a>.&nbsp;Surge in cross-border violence and operational reachThe United Nations assessment underscores that TTP has grown into one of the largest terrorist groups operating out of Afghanistan, developing deep roots across several eastern and southeastern provinces.&nbsp;The group has been linked to many attacks, particularly in the latter half of 2025, contributing to heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier.&nbsp;The Monitoring Team also documented expanded capabilities, citing access to modern weapons, training infrastructure, and logistical backing that have boosted the group&rsquo;s lethality.&nbsp;These include advanced small arms, night-vision equipment and even drone systems &mdash; often facilitated through systems of movement passes and permits allegedly issued by Afghan authorities.&nbsp;Al Qaeda ties and wider threat concernsBeyond its cross-border campaign, the TTP&rsquo;s relationship with Al Qaeda remains a central concern. Member states cited in the report warned that the group&rsquo;s operational cooperation with Al Qaeda-aligned networks could broaden its target set and potentially make it an extra-regional threat beyond South Asia.&nbsp;The report further highlights that Al Qaeda continues to act as a &ldquo;service provider&rdquo; for other terrorist groups in Afghanistan, offering training and strategic support, particularly to the TTP, fueling fears of a widening nexus of extremist collaboration.&nbsp;Taliban denials and international frictionThe findings starkly contradict repeated Taliban assurances that no terrorist groups operate within Afghan borders, with the report noting that no UN member state endorsed this claim. The persistent sanctuary for the TTP and other terrorist groups is now recognized as a credible and <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/ttp-are-our-enenmy-we-will-eliminate-them-information-minister" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">documented threat</a>, complicating Kabul&rsquo;s diplomatic positioning and fueling mistrust with neighboring capitals.&nbsp;Implications for regional securityWhile the Monitoring Team stopped short of declaring that TTP has carried out attacks outside the region, the trendlines suggest a dangerous evolution. Member states expressed particular worry that deeper TTP-Al Qaeda links could enable the group to strike beyond Pakistan, potentially drawing in targets across Central and South Asia or further afield.&nbsp;The report&rsquo;s publication comes amid ongoing violence in Pakistan, including high-profile attacks on civil and security targets, reinforcing the urgent need for coordinated regional counter-terrorism action and renewed international engagement on Afghanistan&rsquo;s terrorist landscape.

Afghanistan

The 37th periodic report from the UNSC's Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, covering July-December 2025, paints a stark picture of a terrorist landscape that increasingly threatens regional security.

TTP on Afghan soil poses 'extraregional threat,' says UN

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Friday said the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is the state&rsquo;s enemy and vowed to eliminate the terrorist outfit. During a press conference in Islamabad, the information minister said that the state would act against the banned group, citing confidence in the armed forces, security agencies, and youth. &quot;As the minister for information, I state clearly: The TTP is Pakistan&rsquo;s enemy. Until our last breath, and until the last drop of blood has been shed, we will eliminate it. I am saying this with absolute resolve: We will eliminate it.&quot; He said the strength of the state came from faith and trust in the armed forces and security agencies, saying personnel leave their homes daily without certainty of return. He referred to families who send their children to fight, accepting the possibility of&nbsp;martyrdom. &ldquo;We stand by them, and we will prevail,&rdquo; he said. Economic revival Tarar also spoke about the economy. He said Pakistan had moved from the threat of default back into the ranks of emerging economies. &ldquo;We have successfully transitioned from the threat of default back into the ranks of emerging economies,&rdquo; he said. He said the stock exchange was breaking records every day. He attributed the performance to confidence among the business community, traders, and industrialists. &ldquo;Our stock exchange is breaking records every single day,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The business community, merchants, and industries trust the government&rsquo;s reforms and policies.&rdquo; The information minister said investors recognized that deep structural reforms were underway. He said that prime minister Shehbaz Sharif had taken difficult decisions for the country. &ldquo;They know the prime minister took difficult steps for the betterment of the country,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Those actions are bearing fruit now.&rdquo; Tarar said that the economic turnaround involved all government departments, for which he credited Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. &ldquo;They are the architects behind this ongoing economic revival,&rdquo; he said. Citing recent figures, the information minister&nbsp;said foreign remittances reached $3.6 billion in December. He said that marked a &quot;17% increase year-on-year&quot; and a &quot;13% rise month-on-month.&quot; &ldquo;I want to thank our overseas Pakistanis,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;They are not only sending money home, but they are also breaking records.&rdquo; He said the government was working on foreign direct investment and that&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s trade with other countries was increasing. &ldquo;Wherever the prime minister goes, he promotes Pakistan&rsquo;s exports,&rdquo; Tarar said, citing Malaysia&rsquo;s increased quota for Pakistani rice and halal meat. He said trade discussions were prioritized during official visits to Pakistan. The minister mentioned the government&#39;s achievements, citing defense and economic frameworks with Saudi Arabia. He referred to agreements with Malaysia and partnerships with the United Arab Emirates. He also mentioned Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar being warmly received by China&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Wang Yi. &ldquo;With the launch of CPEC 2.0, all these economic frameworks are coming to Pakistan,&rdquo; he said. Tarar stated that the international community was viewing Pakistan with seriousness. He attributed that to the political leadership of PM Sharif and the military leadership of Field Marshal Munir. &ldquo;Because we have strong leadership, the world is taking Pakistan seriously,&quot;&nbsp;he said. He said investment was coming into the country and that an economic revival was underway.

Attaullah Tarar, while citing support for the armed forces and security agencies, said that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is Pakistan’s enemy and the state will take action against it.

'TTP is our enemy, we will eliminate it': Pakistan's information minister

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

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: Pakistani law-enforcement agencies have uncovered what officials describe as a structured terrorist network operating from Afghanistan, with recent arrests exposing recruitment pipelines, cross-border training sites, and planned strikes on military and civilian targets, security sources said.&nbsp;One of the key arrests occurred in Talagang, where authorities detained a man identifying himself as Qasim, alias Hassan, a member of the Daloozi tribe from Afghanistan&rsquo;s Gardez province. According to security sources, the suspect admitted he had been recruited in 2025 by a Taliban commander named Armani at Sarha Darga.&nbsp;&ldquo;He told investigators that Commander Armani, along with a companion named Farooq, made him conduct reconnaissance of the army fort in Tajori for a suicide attack,&rdquo; security sources said. The suspect also allegedly confessed to 20 days of training in Afghanistan before being tasked with carrying out a suicide bombing.&nbsp;Security officials said the suspect claimed to have recruited five people for the network, receiving Rs10,000 ($34) per recruit, and later traveled to Punjab in September to enlist additional members before being arrested.&nbsp;The detentions come amid Pakistan&rsquo;s deadliest surge in terrorism in a decade, with violence heavily concentrated in&nbsp;Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)&nbsp;and Balochistan. &ldquo;Attack levels recorded in 2024 mirrored those of 2014,&rdquo; security sources said, citing internal assessments.&nbsp;More than 300 attacks have already struck KP in 2025, according to provincial counterterrorism data shared with investigators.&nbsp;Pakistani authorities maintain that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and affiliated outfits continue to use Afghan territory to stage operations. Security officials noted that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had previously stated that suicide bombers who targeted an Islamabad courthouse and a military cadet college in 2025 were Afghan nationals.&nbsp;Security sources added that a December 2024 attack in Dera Ismail Khan (DI Khan) by Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), a TTP-linked faction, killed 23 security personnel, prompting Islamabad to demand action from Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim authorities.&nbsp;According to the sources, internal threat assessments show a sharp rise in regional militancy since the Afghan Taliban&rsquo;s return to power in 2021. Pakistan-based research cited by investigators documented a 51% increase in attacks in the year following August 15, 2021, while the interior ministry logged a 60% nationwide rise in 2023.&nbsp;Terrorism-related fatalities in Pakistan have quadrupled since 2019, internal government data shows, rising from 365 deaths that year to at least 1,438 in 2023. Academic studies reviewed by security officials also indicate that average monthly TTP attacks tripled between 2020 and 2022.&nbsp;A 2025 assessment circulated among Pakistani security planners concluded that the TTP continues to receive &ldquo;substantial logistical and operational support&rdquo; from authorities inside Afghanistan, with analysts noting that the group has adopted a more centralized command structure and operates from cross-border sanctuaries.&nbsp;Security sources said the latest arrests offer the &ldquo;clearest evidence yet&rdquo; of an organized recruitment chain linking operatives inside Pakistan to handlers and trainers based in Afghanistan.

Pakistani security sources say recent arrests expose a structured Afghanistan-based network recruiting, training and deploying militants as nationwide attacks surge, with TTP-linked groups expanding operations from cross-border sanctuaries.

Pakistan traces expanding Afghan-based network behind rising attacks

ISLAMABAD: A United Nations report has revealed that multiple terrorist groups continue to operate from Afghanistan, contradicting Taliban claims to the contrary. Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban to prevent its territory from being used for terrorism. The latest talks in Istanbul between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban ended in a deadlock, as Pakistan insisted on &quot;no compromise&quot; on ending cross-border terrorism, which the latter kept denying. Pakistan has called for &quot;verifiable action&quot; against Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which continues to launch attacks from Afghan soil. The United Nations has acknowledged that Afghan territory is being used by several terror outfits. A Security Council report from June 2025 highlighted that over two dozen terrorist groups operate in Afghanistan. The report warned that these groups posed a &quot;serious challenge&quot; to the stability of Afghanistan and the security of neighboring countries, including those in Central Asia. Taliban regime&rsquo;s support for TTP A subsequent UNSC report from July 24, 2025, further noted that Afghanistan&#39;s Taliban regime continued to maintain a &ldquo;permissive environment&rdquo; for various terrorist groups. The report confirmed that the TTP, estimated to have around 6,000 fighters, receives &quot;substantial logistical and operational support&quot; from the Taliban regime. Some within the Taliban reportedly advocate distancing themselves from the TTP to improve relations with neighboring states, though such calls have not led to any significant policy changes. TTP&rsquo;s cooperation with other militants to target Pakistan The TTP has coordinated with other militant groups to destabilize Pakistan. In January 2025, the TTP provided training to terrorists in Balochistan. The UNSC report details evidence of &quot;close coordination&quot; between the TTP and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in southern Afghanistan. Both groups are said to have shared training camps, with al-Qaeda providing &quot;ideological and weapons training.&quot; An attack by the BLA, the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train on March 11, resulted in over 30 deaths, demonstrating the group&#39;s increasing capacity for complex, deadly operations. While some experts believe the TTP and BLA do not cooperate at a &quot;strategic level,&quot; there may be a &quot;non-aggression pact&quot; between the two. Concerns over TTP&rsquo;s acquisition of high-grade weapons The acquisition of high-grade weaponry by the TTP, including NATO-standard arms, is particularly concerning. The UNSC noted that these weapons were obtained through &quot;cross-border smuggling and black-market trade,&quot; corroborating Pakistan&#39;s concerns. The TTP has also employed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to carry out attacks on Pakistani military installations in Balochistan and Punjab, the reported stated. ISIL-K and al-Qaeda&#39;s growing presence The terrorist landscape extends beyond the TTP. According to the UNSC report, ISIL-K has been indoctrinating children in madrassas in northern Afghanistan, establishing a suicide training program for minors as young as 14. The group has spread across the northern and northeastern provinces of Afghanistan, with attempts to establish operations in neighboring states. al-Qaeda also maintains a strong presence in Afghanistan. The UNSC report raised concerns about al-Qaeda in South Asia, noting the group has expanded to six provinces, including Ghazni, Helmand, Kandahar, Kunar, Uruzgan, and Zabul. The terror outfit operates several training sites across Afghanistan, even training TTP fighters. Threat to China The UNSC&#39;s July 2025 report further details how Afghanistan&#39;s Taliban regime has allowed groups like the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM/TIP) to operate within its borders. ETIM/TIP has reportedly grown to a force of up to 750 militants, with some regional states assessing its strength to be growing. In December 2024, ETIM/TIP leaders met with Taliban representatives in Kabul, discussing the flow of foreign terrorist fighters from Afghanistan. This cooperation signals the Taliban&#39;s ongoing support for foreign militant groups. Threats for entire region As long as the Afghan Taliban regime continues to permit the use of its soil by terrorist groups, the security of neighboring countries, including Pakistan, Iran, and even China, remains at risk.

A UN report revealed multiple terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan, with Taliban support for TTP and al-Qaeda, posing a growing threat to regional security, including China and Pakistan.

UN report: Terrorist groups operate from Afghan soil

Muhammad Usman Amin

PESHAWAR: Security concerns have once again overshadowed trade at the Pakistan&ndash;Afghanistan border, where hundreds of trucks carrying Afghan produce remain stranded at the Torkham crossing amid escalating tensions between the two neighbors.&nbsp;The closure followed a series of cross-border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan after, according to Pakistani military officials, Taliban fighters and affiliated militants attempted to infiltrate across the frontier. Relations between the two neighbors have since remained strained, with trade through key crossings suspended. A ceasefire between the two sides was finalized in Doha on October 19, with the next round of talks scheduled to take place in Istanbul.&nbsp;Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan interim government to take &ldquo;credible and effective action&rdquo; against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and similar groups launching attacks from across the border. But officials say those requests have gone unanswered, forcing Islamabad to prioritize national security over trade.&nbsp;Officials have stated that Pakistan&rsquo;s security concerns take precedence over trade, emphasizing that cross-border commerce can only resume once the frontier is secure and free from militant activity.&nbsp;Afghan exports rot as border stays shutFor weeks, hundreds of trucks laden with fresh Afghan produce, tomatoes, onions, grapes, and pomegranates, have been stranded at Torkham. With no access to Pakistani markets, the goods are spoiling in the heat, costing Afghan traders millions of dollars in losses.&nbsp;&ldquo;This has been happening for years, but this time it&rsquo;s worse,&rdquo; said Soleiman Safi, an Afghan fruit wholesaler based in Peshawar.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our fresh produce is rotting before it reaches the market. I&rsquo;m now thinking of switching to importing coal. It doesn&rsquo;t spoil.&rdquo;&nbsp;While Pakistan also faces trade losses, its diversified economy can absorb the shock. Afghanistan, however, remains critically dependent on cross-border commerce.&nbsp;Economic fallout hits Afghanistan hardAccording to the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Afghanistan consumes about 6.8 million metric tons of wheat annually but produces only 4.8 million, importing the rest, mostly from Pakistan.&nbsp;Similarly, the country&rsquo;s sole sugar mill in Baghlan province, which restarted operations in early 2025 after decades of closure, can meet only a fraction of domestic demand. The majority of sugar imports also come from Pakistan.&nbsp;Without this trade, Afghan consumers face rising food prices and shortages of essentials such as wheat flour, rice, cooking oil, and processed foods.&nbsp;Business leaders call for swift resolutionJunaid Altaf, president of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the closure is causing severe financial losses.&nbsp;&ldquo;We estimate losses of nearly one billion rupees a day from the Torkham crossing alone,&rdquo; he told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;We have urged our counterparts in Afghanistan to press their government to normalize the situation so trade can resume.&rdquo;&nbsp;Limited alternatives, lingering challengesKabul has explored alternate trade routes through Iran&rsquo;s Chabahar Port and via Central Asia, but traders say these are costly and impractical substitutes for the shorter, better-developed Pakistani corridor.&nbsp;&ldquo;For time-sensitive exports like fruits and vegetables, there is no alternative to Pakistan&rsquo;s route,&rdquo; an Afghan logistics operator said.&nbsp;Officials in Pakistan Customs confirmed that &ldquo;all preparations for reopening have been completed,&rdquo; and staff are &ldquo;on standby,&rdquo; but added that the final decision depends on security clearance from higher authorities.&nbsp;As Afghanistan&rsquo;s economy continues to reel, Islamabad maintains that the solution lies not in seeking alternative trade routes but in tackling the security threats that have strained cross-border ties.&nbsp;&ldquo;A stable, terrorism-free border is the only prerequisite for trade to resume in full,&rdquo; a senior Pakistani official reiterated.

Economy

Trade between Islamabad and Kabul remains suspended as security concerns persist following cross-border clashes. Islamabad prioritizes border safety over commerce, saying trade will resume only once militant threats are contained, leaving Afghan traders facing mounting economic losses.

Trade stalls as security concerns keep Pakistan–Afghanistan border shut

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Afghan traders are feeling the pinch as key trade crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan remain closed for the fourth consecutive day. Afghan state-owned channel Tolo News reported growing concerns over the impact on trade and economic activities due to the border closure. The Afghan Border Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the continued closure has caused &ldquo;significant delays for traders&rdquo; and urged the Afghan government to take &ldquo;urgent steps to resolve the issue.&rdquo; Pakistan&#39;s prime minister recently remarked that the responsibility now lies with the Afghan Taliban to establish a lasting ceasefire. This statement came after a 48-hour ceasefire was declared &nbsp;on Wednesday in response to deadly clashes across the border. Several critical crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan, such as Spin Boldak, have been shut down. On Wednesday, the Pakistani military&#39;s media wing, ISPR, reported that their security forces thwarted another assault by the Afghan Taliban along the Balochistan border, resulting in the deaths of approximately 15 to 20 Taliban fighters. The ISPR stated that the &ldquo;cowardly&rdquo; strikes occurred at four different spots near Spin Boldak during the early morning hours. The Pakistani troops countered these offensives effectively, inflicting casualties and injuries on the attackers. Hostilities initially erupted on the night of October 11-12, 2025, when the Afghan Taliban, alongside an India-supported group, launched an unprovoked assault on Pakistani forces along the border. Islamabad has long maintained that Kabul must halt its support for militants from Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. The conflict worsened late Saturday night, with 23 Pakistani soldiers martyred&nbsp;and, according to ISPR, around 200 Taliban and allied militants killed during an attack originating from the Afghan side. This marks the most intense violence since early October.

Residents ride a loaded truck of belongings, as they flee the area, following exchanges of fire between Pakistan and Afghanistan forces, at the border crossing in Chaman, Balochistan province, Pakistan, October 15, 2025. (REUTERS)

Afghan traders feel the pinch as key border crossings with Pakistan remain closed amid escalating clashes, disrupting trade for the fourth consecutive day and escalating regional tensions.

Articles tagged with "Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)"