Military operations are evident in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border remains volatile, characterized by frequent militant attacks, cross-border clashes, and ongoing military operations. Below is a detailed analysis based on recent developments:

Security Situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan-Afghanistan Border

1. Militant Attacks and Insurgency:

   • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly districts like North Waziristan, South Waziristan, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan, has seen a surge in militant activities since the Afghan Taliban’s return to power in 2021. The Pakistani Taliban (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, TTP) and its affiliates are primarily responsible for these attacks. For instance, a suicide attack in North Waziristan in July 2025 killed 16 Pakistani soldiers, with the TTP claiming responsibility.
   • In February 2025, five soldiers were wounded in an attack in Bannu district, highlighting the persistent threat in KP.
   • Violence in Pakistan’s border areas spiked in 2024, with last year being the deadliest in a decade, driven by TTP and other militant groups operating from Afghan soil, a charge denied by the Afghan Taliban.

2. Cross-Border Clashes:

   • The Pakistan-Afghanistan border, particularly at key crossings like Torkham and Ghulam Khan, has been a flashpoint for tensions. In March 2025, clashes at Torkham resulted in one Afghan security personnel killed and two injured, with both sides trading blame for initiating the violence. The conflict was sparked by Pakistan’s objection to Afghanistan constructing a new border post.
   • In September 2024, heavy fighting broke out in the Kurram-Khost border area, involving heavy weaponry. The clashes were triggered by an Afghan attempt to build a security outpost, which Pakistan opposed, citing mutual agreements.
   • Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province in December 2024 marked a resurgence of hostilities after a brief de-escalation in March 2024. These airstrikes targeted suspected militant hideouts but further strained bilateral relations.

3. Border Closures and Economic Impact:

   • Frequent border closures due to security concerns have disrupted trade and travel. The Torkham crossing was closed for 11 days in March 2025, stranding 5,000 trucks and causing $15 million in losses for Pakistani traders and $500,000 daily losses for Afghan traders.
   • The Ghulam Khan border was closed in June 2025 following a suicide attack on a Pakistani army convoy in North Waziristan, further impacting trade routes critical for Afghanistan’s economy.

4. Militant Infiltration and Pakistani Response:

   • Pakistan’s military has reported significant engagements with militants attempting to cross from Afghanistan. In April 2025, 54 militants were killed in a single operation in North Waziristan, one of the deadliest such incidents in recent years.
   • Another operation in April 2025 saw 71 insurgents, identified as TTP members, killed in Hassan Khel, North Waziristan, with a large cache of weapons recovered. Pakistan claimed these militants were acting under “foreign masters,” indirectly implicating India.
   • In July 2025, 30 fighters were killed in North Waziristan as they attempted to infiltrate, with the military praising its troops for preventing a “potential catastrophe.”

5. Geopolitical Tensions:

   • Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of allowing TTP militants to use its territory for attacks, a claim the Taliban denies. Islamabad has also alleged that India supports these groups to destabilize Pakistan, particularly amid tensions in Kashmir.
   • The Afghan Taliban’s restrictions on information sharing and their deployment of reinforcements, artillery, and tanks to border areas indicate heightened alertness, further complicating de-escalation efforts.
   • Diplomatic efforts, such as Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Kabul in April 2025, aimed to reset ties but have not yielded lasting stability.

Evidence of Military Operations

• Active Military Engagements: The Pakistani military is actively engaged in counterterrorism operations in KP and along the border. Operations in April and July 2025, which killed 54 and 30 militants respectively, demonstrate sustained efforts to curb cross-border infiltration.
• Airstrikes in Afghanistan: Pakistan’s airstrikes in Paktika province in December 2024 indicate a willingness to conduct cross-border operations to target TTP hideouts, despite the risk of escalating tensions with Afghanistan.
• Border Security Measures: Pakistani forces are deployed at key border crossings like Torkham and Kurram, engaging in firefights to counter Afghan provocations or militant incursions. The military’s response to Afghanistan’s border post construction in 2024-2025 shows a proactive stance.
• Counterinsurgency Operations: The killing of 71 TTP militants in April 2025 in North Waziristan, along with the recovery of weapons and explosives, points to intelligence-driven operations aimed at disrupting militant networks.

Critical analyses

• Root Causes: The resurgence of the TTP since 2021 is linked to the Afghan Taliban’s control of Afghanistan, which has emboldened militants. Pakistan’s porous border and historical safe havens for militants in Afghanistan exacerbate the issue.
• Bilateral Distrust: Mutual accusations—Pakistan blaming Afghanistan for harboring militants and Afghanistan accusing Pakistan of unprovoked aggression—have eroded trust, making diplomatic resolutions elusive.
• Economic and Humanitarian Fallout: Border closures and clashes disrupt trade, exacerbating Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis and causing economic losses in Pakistan. The expulsion of undocumented Afghans by Pakistan in 2025 has added to regional instability, with returnees facing challenges in Afghanistan’s fragile economy.
• External Actors: Pakistan’s claims of Indian involvement. The presence of US and Chinese interests (e.g., CPEC and US military bases) adds a layer of complexity, as militant attacks threaten these projects.

The security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border is highly unstable, driven by TTP militancy, cross-border clashes, and geopolitical tensions. Military operations are evident, with Pakistan conducting frequent counterterrorism missions, border engagements, and occasional airstrikes in Afghanistan. These efforts have disrupted militant activities but have not stemmed the tide of violence, which continues to strain bilateral relations and regional stability. Both sides need to prioritize dialogue and address mutual security concerns to prevent further escalation, though distrust and external pressures pose significant challenges.