ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan described a recent cross-border military operation as a “teeth-breaking response” to militants, as tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban escalated.
Sharif appeared to be referring to airstrikes carried out by Pakistan’s military in Afghanistan’s southeastern Paktika Province, which the Taliban said killed 46 people, including women and children. The strikes, conducted in the Barmal district, have drawn sharp criticism from Taliban authorities, who claim civilians were the primary victims.
Speaking at a government meeting in Islamabad that was broadcast by the state-run Pakistan Television, Sharif said, “It is time to completely eliminate these militants.” Without naming specific nations, he alleged that “foreign hands” were supporting the insurgents, including members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP.
Cross-border tensions
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry defended the airstrikes, asserting that they targeted members of the TTP, a group accused of orchestrating attacks on Pakistani soil from sanctuaries in Afghanistan. The ministry did not comment on civilian casualties, which Afghan officials say included women and children from families of Waziristani refugees.
The Taliban condemned the strikes, calling them an assault on Afghan sovereignty. They denied harboring TTP members and claimed that Pakistan’s ongoing security challenges were an internal matter.
“Such actions are detrimental to regional stability,” the Taliban said in a statement.
Mr. Sharif, however, reiterated his government’s stance, warning that Pakistan would not tolerate attacks emanating from Afghan soil. Relations between the two countries, long strained, have worsened since the Taliban seized power in 2021.
A Broader Regional Concern
The rise in militant activity has alarmed neighboring countries, including Central Asian states, who have expressed fears about the resurgence of extremist groups in Afghanistan. Pakistan has repeatedly voiced concerns about the TTP’s ability to regroup and launch attacks under the Taliban’s rule.
A recent article in The New York Times highlighted the growing tension between Pakistan and the Taliban rule. The report suggested that the Taliban were caught between Pakistan’s demands to act against the TTP and their own internal priorities, which include maintaining ties with the group.
