In a stark escalation of violence and diplomatic tension, Pakistan has launched a series of aggressive military operations against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) near the volatile Afghan border, while simultaneously pressing the Taliban government in Kabul to sever all ties with the militant group. The past week’s developments have not only resulted in significant casualties but have also raised fears of worsening relations between the two neighbors, with regional stability hanging in the balance.
According to the Associated Press, Pakistani security forces raided three suspected TTP hideouts in the tribal districts of Bajaur, South Waziristan, and Lower Dir on September 11 and 12, 2025. These operations, which the military described as intelligence-based and meticulously planned, triggered fierce clashes that left 19 Pakistani soldiers and 45 militants dead. In Bajaur, 22 militants were killed in the first raid, while South Waziristan saw the deaths of 13 militants and 12 soldiers. A third operation in Lower Dir resulted in the deaths of seven more soldiers and 10 militants.
The Pakistani military referred to the slain militants as "Khwarij," a term it uses for the TTP, and alleged—without providing evidence—that the group is backed by India. This accusation is not new; Islamabad has long accused New Delhi of supporting both the TTP and separatist movements in Baluchistan, a charge India has consistently denied. As of yet, neither the Taliban government in Kabul nor Indian officials have commented on these latest claims.
The fallout from these clashes has been swift and highly public. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for their "ultimate sacrifice" in the fight against terrorism, as reported by state-run media. Both Sharif and the army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, attended the mass funerals of the fallen soldiers and visited wounded troops in the northwestern city of Bannu—gestures meant to underscore the government’s commitment to combating militancy.
But the violence has also prompted a diplomatic offensive. As reported by The News, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq Khan, is slated to visit Kabul early next week. He is carrying what Islamabad describes as a "stern message" for the Taliban: stop harboring the TTP or risk a complete breakdown in bilateral relations. According to diplomatic sources, Sadiq intends to press the Taliban on allegations that the TTP has been given safe havens, training, funding, and logistical support within Afghanistan—accusations that have been repeatedly denied by the Taliban, who insist that no group is permitted to use Afghan territory for attacks against Pakistan.
This visit comes amid mounting frustration in Islamabad. Pakistani officials say they have already shared evidence with the Taliban authorities to support their claims, but allege that while Kabul has assured cooperation in the past, it has failed to deliver. The current demand is clear: Afghanistan must "make a clear choice" between maintaining friendly ties with Pakistan or continuing to provide sanctuary to the TTP, a demand that marks one of the most pointed diplomatic ultimatums in recent memory.
Prime Minister Sharif, speaking in Bannu, did not mince words. “Terrorists come from Afghanistan,” he stated, warning that Pakistan “will have nothing to do” with the Afghan administration if it chooses to support them. This rhetoric, as noted by Arab News, represents an escalation in hostile language and could further strain already tense relations between the two countries. Afghan analysts like Ahmed-Waleed Kakar, founder of the Afghan Eye podcast, suggest that such accusations are often seen in Kabul as attempts by Islamabad to deflect attention from its own internal challenges.
Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has accused its neighbor of allowing TTP militants to use Afghan territory for cross-border attacks—a claim the Taliban have consistently denied. In April, Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat responded to similar allegations by saying Kabul should not be held responsible for Islamabad’s “failed policies” and that Afghanistan does not permit any group to use its soil for operations against Pakistan.
The backdrop to these tensions is a surge in militant attacks within Pakistan, most of which have been claimed by the TTP. The group, while separate from the Afghan Taliban, is closely allied with them and has grown emboldened since the Taliban seized power in Kabul. Many TTP leaders and fighters have reportedly found sanctuary across the border, complicating Pakistan’s efforts to root out militancy within its own territory.
In response, Pakistani security officials have adopted a new operational strategy in the tribal districts bordering Afghanistan, particularly in Khyber and Bajaur. As reported by Dawn, this strategy involves intensified border surveillance and efforts to cut off the supply lines—ammunition, finances, and manpower—that sustain militant groups like the TTP. Law enforcement agencies are working to restrict terrorists to their current locations, aiming to exhaust their fighting skills while avoiding collateral damage to local populations.
Officials believe that the upcoming months, from September to February, present an ideal window to prevent militants from replenishing their resources. Historically, winter has seen many terrorist groups return to sanctuaries in Afghanistan or seek safe havens in Pakistan’s border districts to regroup ahead of spring offensives. By disrupting this cycle, authorities hope to weaken the resolve of outlawed groups and discourage new recruits from Afghanistan.
However, the new approach is not without its challenges. In May, officials communicated plans for a full-scale military operation in the Tirah Valley against the TTP and allied groups, but local elders rejected the idea of forced displacement and military offensives. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority even set up a registration center for families expected to be evicted, but not a single family registered after four months. Security forces maintain that military operations will only be conducted when unavoidable and that any relocation of civilians will be temporary and for their safety.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian toll continues to rise. Over the past two years, Pakistan has expelled 1.4 million Afghan nationals, citing security concerns related to militant activity. Experts like Naseer Ahmad Nawidy, a political science professor in Kabul, argue that such mass deportations lack sufficient substantiation and only deepen the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, which is already struggling to accommodate the influx of returnees.
With both nations facing economic hardship and regional instability, analysts warn that continued hostility serves no one. "Further escalation of tensions serves no purpose. Both nations require economic development, regional connectivity, and constructive relations with the international community. Ongoing hostility only harms the broader region," Nawidy told Arab News.
As Pakistan intensifies its military campaign and diplomatic pressure, and as Afghanistan remains defiant in its denials, the coming weeks may prove decisive for the future of cross-border security—and for the fragile relationship between these two neighbors.