Pakistans Attacks in Afghanistan Raise Questions About Strategy
Ongoing Pakistani attacks in Afghanistan challenge Islamabads strategy and highlight its struggle to regain influence in the region.
Islamabad, October 2 (Daily Kiran) : Ongoing attacks by Pakistan in Afghanistan, despite their limited impact, have raised serious concerns about Islamabad’s strategic approach. A recent report indicates that these actions reflect Pakistan’s attempts to reestablish its influence in Afghanistan.
Following many of these attacks, officials from the Taliban administration have issued strong responses. There have also been threats of retaliation and sporadic gunfire along the border.
The latest incident occurred early Thursday when the Pakistani military reportedly targeted civilian homes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Helmand provinces with airstrikes. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that nine individuals, including women and children, were killed, and eleven others were injured. He also reported the destruction of three homes.
Earlier, on September 24, Pakistan conducted air and drone strikes at ten locations within Afghanistan. According to Afghan media, these strikes included targets in Kandahar, considered the stronghold of Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada (Amir-al-Momineen). Attacks were also reported in Khost and Paktia provinces.
On September 21, Pakistani airstrikes resulted in the deaths of three civilians—one man, one woman, and a child—in Kunar and Paktika provinces. While Pakistan claimed to have killed 28 militants, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed civilian casualties. This led to protests across various regions in Afghanistan, including Kabul.
According to “The Diplomat,” Pakistan’s airstrikes were a response to an attack on a police compound in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. On September 18, attackers detonated explosives in a vehicle during Friday prayers, breaching security and launching an armed assault that left at least 16 police officers dead. The attack was claimed by the Ittihadul Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP), a coalition led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, which is closely associated with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Pakistani officials identified one of the attackers as an Afghan national.
The report indicates that between October 2025 and September 2026, Pakistan conducted air and drone strikes inside Afghanistan on at least 15 occasions. Estimates suggest that over 1,100 civilians have been killed or injured this year due to cross-border violence. A significant attack in May on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul reportedly resulted in 269 fatalities, raising calls for an investigation into potential war crimes.
The report suggests that beyond attempting to control the TTP and IMP, Pakistan aims to regain its lost influence and strategic foothold in Kabul. Once seen as an ally, the Taliban has now become a challenge for Islamabad, which views military pressure and support for Taliban opposition groups as viable options.
“The Diplomat” notes that Pakistan’s long-term goal has been to maintain a weak and dependent state in Afghanistan. Critics of this strategy argue that the Taliban has learned to develop and utilize strategic assets from its former supporters. Thus, attempts to force concessions through bombing may prove to be a shortsighted and counterproductive approach, echoing lessons from two decades of U.S. intervention in Afghanistan.
