Post by : Meena Ariff

Pakistan endured its deadliest year of violence in a decade during 2025, with gun battles, airstrikes, and suicide bombings marking a sharp rise in conflict across the country. According to recent data, nearly 4,000 people lost their lives in insurgent attacks — the highest toll since 2015. Over 1,000 violent incidents, ranging from bombings to armed clashes, took place nationwide, impacting civilians, military personnel, and militants alike.

The surge in violence has been closely linked to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group allied with the Taliban government in Afghanistan. Pakistan accuses the Taliban leadership in Kabul of harboring and supporting TTP fighters, a charge the Afghan Taliban denies. Kabul maintains it has restricted Afghans from joining conflicts abroad and blames Pakistani military actions for escalating tensions.

This year’s spike in attacks includes a notable suicide bombing that killed seven Pakistani soldiers in North Waziristan, followed by allegations of Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan’s northeastern border regions, which Islamabad has denied.

Efforts by Turkey and Qatar to mediate peace talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban broke down quickly, leading to ongoing cross-border clashes. Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, relations have steadily worsened. Islamabad had hoped the new government in Kabul would control the TTP threat, but instead, the militants have grown bolder and more active.

The TTP’s aim has evolved from retaliating against Pakistan’s support of the US war in Afghanistan to seeking to overthrow Pakistan’s government and enforce strict Islamic law. They reject the Durand Line border, a historic boundary separating the two countries, which is also disputed by the Afghan Taliban.

Today, Pakistan ranks as the second-most terror-affected country globally. The TTP has acquired advanced weaponry, including drones and night-vision equipment, much of which originated from abandoned US military stockpiles in Afghanistan. An estimated 8,500 TTP fighters operate mostly from Afghan territory, crossing the porous border to carry out attacks.

For the Afghan Taliban, taking action against the TTP risks weakening their own alliances and pushing fighters toward other extremist groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda, making the issue complex and difficult to resolve.

The conflict has also hurt trade and economy. Border clashes and closures have disrupted commerce, with Pakistani exports to Afghanistan plummeting by over 90% in a year, worsening inflation at home. Refugees have been caught in the crisis as Pakistan, hosting nearly two million Afghans, has deported tens of thousands it considers illegal.

Pakistan’s political landscape, dominated by military leadership, has limited diplomatic solutions, favoring a strong military response. Experts warn that without political involvement, the fight against terrorism may not succeed.

Amid these tensions, Pakistan also expresses growing concern over India’s alleged support for the TTP, as New Delhi strengthens ties with the Afghan Taliban and discusses new trade routes bypassing Pakistan.

#Global News