A new wave of geopolitical tension has erupted in South Asia after Pakistan launched airstrikes in Afghanistan just as a senior Taliban minister made his first official visit to India. The timing of the strikes has raised eyebrows globally, sparking speculation that Islamabad’s move was a reaction to the Taliban’s growing diplomatic engagement with New Delhi.

Pakistan’s Airstrikes and Their Justification

According to reports, Pakistan carried out airstrikes on militant hideouts in Afghanistan’s eastern Khost and Paktika provinces, claiming they targeted groups responsible for deadly attacks inside Pakistan. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a banned extremist outfit based across the Afghan border, has long been blamed by Islamabad for cross-border terrorism.

Pakistan’s military said the action was a “pre-emptive counter-terrorism measure”, emphasizing that the Afghan Taliban regime had failed to curb the TTP’s growing activities. However, Afghan authorities condemned the strikes, calling them a violation of sovereignty and warning of “serious consequences.”

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense stated that several civilians were killed and injured, accusing Pakistan of aggression and demanding restraint.

The Timing — A Diplomatic Shock

What truly caught global attention was the timing of these strikes. As Pakistani jets hit Afghan soil, a top Taliban minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, was visiting India for the first time since the Taliban took power in 2021.

Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister, arrived in New Delhi to attend a regional conference on trade, connectivity, and counterterrorism. His presence marked a significant diplomatic milestone — India’s first public engagement at such a level with the Taliban government.

The optics could not have been worse for Islamabad. For decades, Pakistan has seen Afghanistan as part of its strategic sphere of influence, often acting as the Taliban’s political backer. But the Taliban’s outreach to India — Pakistan’s arch-rival — appears to have unsettled Islamabad deeply.

India’s Careful Diplomacy

India has been treading carefully in dealing with the Taliban regime, balancing its national security interests with regional stability. After the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, New Delhi shut down its embassy in Kabul but later reopened a limited diplomatic presence for humanitarian and technical engagement.

Muttaqi’s visit to India signals that New Delhi is exploring pragmatic engagement with the Taliban to protect its investments, maintain regional influence, and counter Pakistan’s strategic dominance.

During the visit, discussions reportedly focused on trade routes, humanitarian aid, and counterterrorism cooperation. India is also concerned about extremist groups operating from Afghan soil that could threaten Kashmir or the broader South Asian region.

For the Taliban, improved ties with India mean economic benefits and legitimacy — both of which are crucial as the regime struggles under sanctions and international isolation.

Why Pakistan Is Uncomfortable

Pakistan’s discomfort stems from a long-standing assumption that the Taliban would remain loyal to Islamabad after regaining control of Kabul. However, the reality has been far more complicated.

The Taliban leadership, now governing Afghanistan, has shown increasing independence from Pakistan’s influence. Tensions have risen over the TTP issue, border disputes, and trade blockades. Islamabad has accused Kabul of sheltering militants who attack Pakistani forces, while the Taliban claims Pakistan is unfairly targeting Afghan sovereignty.

The latest airstrikes, coinciding with the Taliban’s India outreach, could be seen as Pakistan’s attempt to reassert dominance — a signal to both Kabul and New Delhi that it won’t tolerate being sidelined in regional politics.

Reactions from the Taliban and Global Community

The Taliban reacted sharply to Pakistan’s airstrikes, calling them an “act of aggression”. Afghan officials warned that such actions could “destabilize the entire region” and demanded an end to Pakistan’s cross-border operations.

Meanwhile, the United Nations and several regional powers urged restraint and dialogue. International analysts noted that the timing of the strikes — during the Taliban minister’s visit to India — appeared more political than purely military.

An Afghan political analyst told Al Jazeera:

“Pakistan wanted to remind both Kabul and New Delhi that it still holds military power in the region. But this move could backfire by pushing the Taliban closer to India.”

Strategic Implications for India and South Asia

For India, the situation presents both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, engagement with the Taliban allows India to reestablish its presence in Afghanistan — a country where it invested over $3 billion in infrastructure and development projects before 2021.

On the other hand, the volatile Pakistan-Afghanistan dynamic poses risks for India’s regional strategy. Any escalation between Islamabad and Kabul could disrupt trade, energy routes, and security cooperation in South Asia.

Moreover, with China also expanding its footprint in Afghanistan through mining and Belt and Road projects, India must play its cards strategically to stay relevant in the evolving regional balance.

Pakistan’s Internal Pressure

Domestically, Pakistan’s government and military are under immense pressure. The TTP’s increasing attacks have shaken internal security, while the economy remains in crisis. Public discontent over inflation and political instability has weakened Islamabad’s credibility.

Experts believe the airstrikes were partly meant to project strength at home and distract from internal turmoil. But with growing international criticism, Pakistan risks isolating itself further, especially as the Taliban retaliates diplomatically.

The Road Ahead

The situation underscores the fragile power dynamics in South Asia. The Taliban’s growing engagement with India marks a major shift that Pakistan is finding hard to digest. Islamabad’s aggressive response might offer short-term satisfaction but could lead to long-term diplomatic setbacks.

For India, maintaining open channels with Kabul while managing tensions with Islamabad will be a tightrope walk. The coming weeks will reveal whether this marks a new regional realignment — or just another episode in the ongoing rivalry between India and Pakistan over Afghanistan’s strategic importance.