In a significant escalation, Pakistan’s military, led by Army Chief General Asim Munir, conducted airstrikes near Kabul, Afghanistan, late last night. Islamabad asserted the operation aimed to eliminate Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Noor Wali Mehsud, held responsible for a recent lethal attack on Pakistani security forces in Orakzai. However, the TTP quickly issued an audio recording, allegedly from Mehsud himself, refuting claims of his demise and stating he is alive, casting immediate doubt on the operation’s success.
This controversial strike has placed Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts under intense scrutiny, with many analysts labeling it a critical misstep. The Taliban administration in Kabul vehemently denounced the attacks, labeling them a flagrant violation of Afghan sovereignty and issuing a stern warning of retaliatory measures. A Taliban spokesperson declared that Pakistan would face consequences for any civilian casualties resulting from what they termed an unprovoked assault.
The regional implications are substantial, especially given that Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is presently in India, engaging in high-level discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. During these talks, India reiterated its commitment to Afghanistan’s sovereignty and security and revealed intentions to fully reopen its embassy in Kabul, signaling a strategic shift in diplomatic engagement with the de facto Afghan government.
Simultaneously, Pakistan’s domestic landscape is fraught with instability. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government has implemented internet suspensions in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. This measure comes in response to large-scale protests by the radical Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) group, whose followers attempted to march towards the US Embassy, protesting the Gaza conflict. Clashes between TLP demonstrators and security forces have already been reported.