Pearl Pandya on renewed Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul

Pearl Pandya, South Asia Senior Analyst  at ACLED, said: 

“A fresh wave of Pakistani airstrikes overnight has further escalated tensions, with one strike in Kabul reportedly hitting a drug rehabilitation center and hospital. Taliban authorities claim that around 400 people were killed, though the facility was believed to be treating up to 2,000 individuals. Independent verification is still ongoing. 

“These latest developments build on a pattern seen in recent weeks, where recent reporting indicates continued strikes across multiple provinces and growing civilian impact, raising concerns about the widening scope of targets.

“This reflects Islamabad’s increasingly forceful response to resurgent militancy in its border regions, which it attributes to groups operating from Afghan territory. While Pakistan’s strategy appears aimed at degrading the Taliban’s ability to respond and limiting cross-border militant activity, the risk of retaliation remains high, including through asymmetric tactics such as drone attacks and support for anti-Pakistan armed groups.”