Since the dawn of independence Pakistan has faced immense problems on eastern borders because of the Kashmir dispute with India. The western borders with Afghanistan and Iran have been rather quiet and subdued but a nightmare scenario for policy planners has always been there if is trouble on western borders too how we will cope with that situation. So far the only irritant on western borders has been denial of the Durand line by the Afghan Govt. and creation of stunt of the so called Pakhtunistan laying claim to large swathes of Pakistani territories. To counter threat from the West theory of “Strategic Depth” was created, the idea was to ensure that any Govt.in Afghanistan will be a Pakistani friendly or pro Pakistan Govt. and hence Pakistan’s meddling in the internal affairs of Afghanistan.
So far the theory of Strategic depth has proved a total failure and present Taliban regime in Kabul is far from being a strategic asset in fact they are extremely hostile and spare no effort in creating trouble on the Western border by their blanket support and help to the TTP and BLA for launching attacks on the security forces of Pakistan. Pakistan’s nightmare scenario is now a reality because we now have to face threats simultaneously from both borders East and West along with the internal insurgency instigated by the TTP and the BLA in Baluchistan. Pakistan today is a victim of its geographical location and so far it has managed to keep one border defused but engagement on both borders may be catastrophic for our armed forces and the country too.
It was great blessing that during 1980s when the Soviet forces were in Afghanistan and Pakistan was fully engaged in helping the US efforts to strengthen Mujahedeen groups in Afghanistan there was no serious flare up with India and our western border remained quiet and peaceful. During the long American War on terror Pakistan cooperated with the US and NATO forces to eliminate Taliban and terrorist groups in Afghanistan the Indian Parliament was attacked by some militant groups and India mobilized its forces on the Pakistani borders. Then came the longest composite dialogue and the US mediation resulted in a peaceful end to the military standoff between the two countries. While the Pakistani forces were engaged on the Western borders with Afghanistan the US obliged by keeping India on a leash.
A lot of water has flowed under the Ravi Bridge since time of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Today Pakistan is faced with a nightmarish security challenge. In East is the arch enemy India that continues to threaten on many false and made up charges such as their recently launched Operation Sindoor in May this year. On the western Front is hostile and belligerent Taliban Govt. in Kabul. On top of threat from the two borders is internal threat of militant attacks by the TTP in KPK and the BLA in Baluchistan. It is for first time that Pakistan is fighting simultaneously on not two but there fronts. On the western front Pakistan had to engage in missile strikes with Iran in January 2024 but the only silver lining to the clouds is cordial and friendly relations with Iran after Pakistan’s blanket support for Iran during the Iran Israeli war. All efforts for a peaceful dialogue with the Afghan Taliban have ended in complete failure and relations between the two countries are at their lowest level.
The Kabul regime of Taliban has categorically refused to take any action against the Pakistani Talban who are safely entrenched in Afghan territory and continue to attack Pakistan from their safe havens in Afghanistan. After a complete collapse of negotiations with Kabul Pakistan had to adopt a tough Policy to prevent further loss of life and danger to Pakistani security forces in KPK. In October 2025 almost a full scale war erupted with Afghanistan. Air strikes were launched by the Pakistan air force targeting militant camps and training area inside Afghanistan and the Afghan army attacked Pakistani border posts and ultimately ceasefire was declared after mediation efforts by Qatar and Turkey. Peace talks were started but ended in failure because of the Taliban refusal to give any written guarantees to put a hold on any further TTP incursions. Pakistan is left with no options but to close all borders with Afghanistan and stop all trading activities. The end of trade is a big loss to Pakistan also as it inflicts some pain on Kabul regime too.
Pakistan has to remain very vigilant and active on the Western Border, India is still licking its wounds after the May 2025 clash with Pakistan and now recently India’s defense minister provocatively suggested that borders can change and Sindh could one day ‘return to India’, Islamabad condemned this as “a threat to regional stability.
In view of the hostile Indian stance Pakistan has to keep a watchful eye on both fronts and keep in a state of high alert. Pakistan may not be able to do much on both borders but the internal insurgency launched by blessings of the Afghan Taliban must be put down at all cost. Our security forces have made some impressive gains in dealing with the militant attacks yet situation in KPK particularly remains far from satisfactory with rising casualties and daring attacks by the TTP.
—The writer is Professor of History, based in Islamabad.
