Border Fire to Regional Faultline: South Asia’s New Security Reality
The recent dramatic escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which has seen Islamabad carry out airstrikes on Kabul and other Afghan cities and Islamabad’s defence minister declare an “open war”, marks a seismic shift in South Asia’s security landscape. The conflict framed by Islamabad as self-defence against militants allegedly operating from Afghan soil has morphed from recurring border skirmishes into open military confrontation with far-reaching implications for the region and the broader Indo-Pacific. Escalation Beyond the Durand Line The underlying flashpoint is not new. Pakistan accuses elements in Afghanistan of harbouring and abetting groups such as the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and affiliates of Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), which have carried out deadly attacks inside Pakistan. Afghanistan has long denied hosting proxy militants, framing cross-border violence as Pakistan’s violation of its sovereignty. These dynamics have now culminated in Operati...