Moveover to 'neo-Naya Pakistan' - Here you have air strikes, clashes with Afghanistan

New Delhi 

Things do come full circle many times.

"There has been an exponential rise in cross-border militant attacks (from Afghanistan) on Pakistani security forces over the past few months. The situation has now taken a more serious turn with alleged Pakistani air strikes conducted inside Afghanistan and reported civilian casualties heightening tensions," says a report in newspaper 'Dawn'.

Of course, the Pakistan Foreign Office said that Islamabad is looking into the situation after conflicting 

reports emerged about violence in Afghanistan on Saturday.

After the Taliban authorities held Pakistan responsible for ‘military violations’, FO spokesman Asim Iftikhar 

said the Pakistan government was looking into the situation and “will give its position accordingly”.

A spokesman for Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul has denied the Afghan claim, but no formal statement

from Pak military yet.

“Military violations including those in Khost and Kunar must be prevented as such acts deteriorate 

relations ... allowing antagonists to misuse the situation leading to undesired consequences,” 

a statement quoted acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. 

Now there are certain key issues in the entire game.

The border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan has become a 'safe haven' for the Tehreek-i-Taliban 

Pakistan (TTP). 

Notably, notwithstanding Pakistan’s repeated warnings, the 'Afghan Taliban administration' has 

not done much or refused to take action against them.

Thus, there is a version that says the reported air strike, undertaken to target militant sanctuaries 

inside Afghanistan, indicates that the Pak authorities 'may be' losing their patience with the Afghan 

Taliban’s inaction. 

Reports say militant raids have escalated inside North and South Waziristan since the Taliban returned to 

power in Afghanistan in August 2021. 

In fact, even days before Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, amid global concerns, Pakistan's role has come 

into question. 

The erstwhile Afghanistan government had repeatedly flayed Pakistan for its questionable role in supporting the Taliban

forces.

Afghanistan had also eloquently alleged that it is Pakistan which was standing as a principal supporting force 'behind' 

the Taliban.

"We think, yes, it is the Taliban doing the work ...but it is a proxy war. Taliban may be the army...but the brains of 

management (are in Pakistan)," the previous National Security Advisor of Afghanistan Hamdullah Mohib 

had told the BBC in July 2021. 

Of course, the return of Taliban rule in Afghanistan has boosted the TTP. 

Once split into several factions, the terrorists in Afghanistan, said to number around 5,000 to 6,000, 

are "reuniting and appear to be better equipped", experts say.

Many TTP militants, who were released from Afghan jails with the return of the Afghan Taliban after 

the American exit in 2021, are said to be actively involved in launching terrorist attacks in Pakistan.

ends