iplomatic tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have increased after Pakistani fighter jets bombed the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan camps in Afghanistan’s Paktika province on December 24.

Pakistan has repeatedly informed its concern with Kabul over the use of Afghan soil for terrorist attacks on Pakistani territory, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Last week, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had asked the Afghan government to take action against the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and reiterated that attacks on Pakistan from facilities based in Afghanistan were a “red line” for the country. “Pakistan wishes to have improved ties with Afghanistan but that is not possible when the neighbouring country harbours terrorist outfits targeting it. Such a dual policy is not acceptable. The TTP presence [and impunity] across the border is Pakistan’s red line.”

The same day the chief military spokesperson addressed a news conference in which he said that many of the terrorist attacks on Pakistani military and security forces were originating from Afghanistan. The ISPR director general said militant groups were being provided “sanctuaries, support, and [we]re allowed unrestrained activity on Afghan territory”.

“The army chief holds a clear and firm stance on this. Pakistan has concerns over the safe havens, facilitation and unrestrained activity of proscribed organisations operating from Afghan soil,” he added.

A day before the strike, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Pakistan’s Special Envoy to Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq Khan had met to discuss bilateral relations. The de facto government in Kabul said that at least 46 civilians had been killed in the strikes.

Ties between Islamabad and Kabul have worsened after the takeover of the government by the Afghan Taliban. Islamabad has accused Kabul of supporting militant outfits like the TTP and the Hafiz Gul Badur group, which it says are based in Afghanistan and continue to carry out attacks in Pakistan.

A day before the recent strike, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Pakistan’s special envoy to Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq Khan had met to discuss bilateral relations. 

The Afghan interim government denies the allegations, saying that the militancy is an issue internal to Pakistan. It says it has not allowed anyone to use its soil against any other country.

On December 25, Foreign Office of the Afghan interim government summoned the head of Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in Kabul to deliver a formal protest over strikes carried out by Pakistani forces. Earlier in March 2024, the government had accused Pakistan of carrying out a similar airstrike.

In a written statement, the Afghan minister for defence, told this scribe, “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan considers this brutal act a violation of international norms and strongly condemns it… The Pakistani side should understand that such arbitrary measures are not a solution to any problem. The Islamic Emirate will not leave this cowardly act unanswered. It considers the defence of its territory an inalienable right.”

In another statement, Afghan officials said: “While representatives of Pakistan’s civilian government were engaged in discussions with the Afghan government in Kabul, Pakistani aircraft violated Afghanistan’s territorial frontier. Killing of civilians by certain elements is an attempt to sow mistrust in the relations between the two countries.”

It added, “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, which has a long history of defending the country against superpowers, will not tolerate any violation of its borders under any circumstances.”

On December 30, more clashes were reported from the Pak-Afghan border. Reportsd said eight people were killed on the Afghan side during the clashes. The clashes had begun after a failed bid by militants on the Afghan side to infiltrate into Pakistan. After the infiltration attempt failed, the militants fired on Pakistani posts.The border posts in Ghozgarhi, Matha Sangar, Kot Ragha and Tari Mengal areas were targeted.

The writer, a journalist, has covered militancy and crime in northwest Pakistan for nearly two decades. Follow him at @RasoolDawar