Once close friends, now bitter enemies... How did relations between Pakistan and Taliban deteriorate?

News Topical, Digital Desk : For decades, Pakistan has been the closest ally of the Afghan Taliban. It was Pakistan that facilitated the Taliban's rise in the last decade of the last century. Pakistan took this step as part of a strategy to gain an edge in its rivalry with India. But what happened is that their decades-long close friendship has now turned into enmity?

Pakistan has been continuously attacking Taliban-ruled Afghanistan in the name of fighting terrorism. The Taliban has been retaliating and retaliating. The two neighboring countries have clashed several times in recent weeks. In a similar incident, Pakistan carried out an airstrike in Kabul on Monday night, killing more than 400 people.

Pakistan claimed it targeted military installations and terrorist hideouts. Last month, the Pakistani defense minister described the escalating tensions between the two neighboring countries as open war. On February 22, airstrikes were carried out at several locations in Afghanistan.

This month, airstrikes were also carried out on several major Afghan cities. In October, border clashes between the two sides resulted in the deaths of several soldiers. A ceasefire was later brokered by Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Why are the two neighboring countries fighting?

The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021. Pakistan welcomed it at the time. However, Islamabad soon realized that the Taliban were not as cooperative as it had hoped.

Pakistan alleges that key Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants are in Afghanistan and that it has also become a safe haven for insurgents seeking independence for Balochistan, a claim Kabul denies.

How did the recent conflicts begin?

Before the airstrikes last February, Pakistan claimed it had concrete evidence that terrorists based in Afghanistan were behind recent suicide attacks targeting Pakistani military and police. It linked seven major terrorist attacks since the end of 2024 to Afghanistan.

Who is Pakistan Taliban?

The TTP is also known as the Pakistan Taliban. Formed in 2007, this terrorist organization is active in northwestern Pakistan, with presence in areas along the Afghan border and elsewhere in Pakistan. It has carried out attacks on numerous markets, mosques, airports, military bases, and police stations. The TTP was also involved in the 2012 attack on Malala Yousafzai, who later received the Nobel Peace Prize.

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