Is Pakistan Panicking? Airstrikes in Afghanistan as Taliban Official Makes First Visit to India

In a sudden escalation of regional tensions, Pakistan launched airstrikes in Kabul targeting suspected Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) bases on Thursday night. The attacks occurred at a time when Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was visiting India — marking the first-ever official trip by a Taliban representative to New Delhi. The timing has sparked speculation that Pakistan is alarmed by India’s renewed engagement with Afghanistan.

The air raids also come amid a steep decline in ties between Islamabad and the Taliban regime, which Pakistan accuses of harboring and funding TTP militants. Once close allies, the relationship between the two neighbors has become increasingly tense, especially as cross-border violence intensifies.

Pakistan’s Airstrikes in Kabul: Targeting the TTP Chief

According to local Afghan sources, the Pakistani fighter jets carried out strikes near Shahid Abdul Haq Square in Kabul in an effort to eliminate TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud, who has led the militant group since 2018.

However, Mehsud quickly denied reports of his death in an audio message, confirming that he was “safe and alive.” His clarification followed a series of Pakistani media claims that he had been killed in the operation.

Mehsud, who considers Pakistan’s alliance with the United States after the 9/11 attacks a betrayal, has long posed a significant challenge to Islamabad’s internal security. Under his leadership, TTP has intensified attacks on Pakistani military convoys and security posts.

In one of the deadliest incidents this year, the group ambushed a military convoy near the Afghan border on October 8, killing 11 Pakistani soldiers, including two senior commanders. The repeated assaults highlight how deeply entrenched the TTP threat remains despite Pakistan’s ongoing counterterrorism operations.

Former US envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad criticized Pakistan’s airstrikes, describing them as a “major escalation” that could destabilize the region. He urged both Pakistan and the Taliban government to pursue diplomatic dialogue instead of resorting to violence.

“Recently, Taliban forces have been active inside Pakistan, targeting ISIS militants. Meanwhile, Pakistan has shown tolerance for ISIS elements when it comes to Afghanistan and its Baloch insurgency,” Khalilzad noted on social media. “In return, the Taliban have turned a blind eye to TTP operations — a dangerous cycle of proxy tolerance.”

Airstrikes Follow Pakistan’s Stern Warning to Kabul

The airstrikes came less than 24 hours after a strong warning from Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who told parliament that Pakistan’s patience with the Taliban regime had “run out.”

“Militants continue to use Afghan soil against Pakistan. Enough is enough,” Asif declared during his address to the National Assembly. His statement was widely interpreted as a signal of impending military action — which unfolded within a day.

On Friday, Asif went further, acknowledging that Pakistan — often accused of backing militant groups — was now struggling to contain the very forces it once empowered. “Violence in Pakistan persists despite years of negotiation with Kabul. Soldiers are being buried daily. We are paying the price of hosting six million Afghan refugees for six decades — with our blood,” he lamented on X (formerly Twitter).

He added, “The time has come for our Afghan guests to return home and end this endless cycle of terror and killing.”

Taliban Foreign Minister’s Historic Visit to India

While the airstrikes rattled Kabul, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s six-day visit to India carried significant diplomatic weight. Although India has not formally recognized the Taliban government, the meetings symbolized a gradual thaw in relations between New Delhi and Kabul.

During his visit, Muttaqi held separate talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. These discussions mark the most high-level interaction between the two sides since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Observers say that India’s re-engagement with Afghanistan gained momentum after the Taliban’s strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives in India. This gesture has opened new avenues for diplomatic cooperation, humanitarian aid, and regional security dialogue.

India has also been sending humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan, including food and medical aid, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the Afghan people. Analysts believe India’s growing presence in Kabul is being closely monitored — and perhaps feared — by Pakistan’s establishment.

As Islamabad faces mounting internal and border challenges, New Delhi’s strengthening ties with Afghanistan could mark a new phase in South Asian geopolitics — one that places Pakistan in an increasingly defensive position.

For now, Pakistan’s airstrikes, Afghanistan’s defiance, and India’s diplomatic outreach together signal a significant geopolitical shift in the region — a test of strategy, influence, and survival for all three nations.