The Taliban's response has been defiant, accusing Pakistan of incompetence and pledging to defend their territory. Reports suggest retaliatory actions, including clashes near the border targeting Pakistani military installations, signaling a cycle of retaliation.
The conflict's origins trace back to Pakistan's initial support for the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in 2021. However, relations soured as Pakistan sought the Taliban's help in combating the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), leading to accusations of Taliban support for the TTP and subsequent terrorist attacks within Pakistan.
Despite efforts through military actions, deportations, and appeals to the international community, Pakistan finds itself increasingly isolated. The weakening civilian government and eroding military influence add to Pakistan's vulnerability.
The recent airstrikes serve as a symbolic display of Pakistan's determination to defend itself, although Islamabad may seek to avoid further escalation by denying involvement in Afghan territory. However, the Taliban's response will shape the trajectory of the conflict, with possibilities of proxy attacks through groups like the TTP.
The conflict underscores the irony of Pakistan's support for the Afghan Taliban against "bad" terrorists while combating their own "good" terrorists, leading to conflict
China condemns Baloch militants' attack on Pakistan's Gwadar port
China on Thursday strongly condemned the Baloch militants' attack on Pakistan's Gwadar Port, a key part of the multi-billion dollar CPEC. The Gwadar Port complex, an integral part of the CPEC project, was the target of the attack, highlighting the strategic importance of the region. Two soldiers of the Pakistani Army were killed and eight Baloch militants were "sent to hell" when security personnel foiled an attempt by heavily armed Baloch insurgents to storm the Gwadar Port Authority complex in the restive Balochistan province, according to the Pakistan military.
The port complex hosts several government and paramilitary offices and the strategically located Gwadar Port remains one of the focal points of the billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Project. Balochistan, bordering Iran and Afghanistan, is home to a long-running violent insurgency.
Baloch insurgent groups have previously carried out several attacks targeting the USD 60 billion CPEC projects. The BLA is opposed to China's investments in Balochistan and accuses Beijing and Islamabad of exploitation of the resource-rich province, a charge rejected by the authorities. Thousands of Chinese personnel are working in Pakistan on several projects being carried out under the aegis of the CPEC. Wednesday's attack comes after a lull in violence and terror activities in the Balochistan province since the February 8 general elections.
According to an annual security report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan witnessed 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations in 2023 - marking a record six-year high.
U.S. says border state belongs to New Delhi
Washington opposes encroachments over boundary that Beijing insists is not decidedThe U.S. has stepped coming down firmly on New Delhi's side.A State Department official said that the U.S. "recognizes" the state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of India and rejects attempts by others to assert control over the territory. China claims ownership of the area, which it calls Zangnan, or South Tibet."We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to advance territorial claims by incursions or encroachments, military or civilian, across the Line of Actual Control.China on Thursday hit back, saying it firmly opposes the U.S. statement. "Delimitation of the China-India boundary has never been completed .
HK security law is final nail in coffin, say critics
Western leaders, the UN and rights groups have joined a chorus of criticism of Hong Kong's new security law, saying it further erodes freedoms. Article 23, as it's known locally, was unanimously passed by the city's pro-Beijing parliament, targeting a range of offences deemed treasonous.Officials say the law is essential for stability but opponents called it a "nail in the city's coffin".China has long pushed for the law and said "smears" by critics would fail.The new law allows for closed-door trials, gives the police rights to detain suspects for up to 16 days without charge and penalties including life sentences, among other things.
This has downed the Hong Kong stock market.
US ‘may be sending strong message’ to China with hypersonic missile test as arms race heats up
US Air Force says its final test of AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon on Sunday ‘intended to further a range of hypersonic programmes’The US and China expected to continue developing hypersonic weapons while also improving their defensive capabilities to neutralise these systems.
US special forces training Taiwanese army on island bases
Taiwan has admitted America is teaching its soldiers how to repel a Chinese invasion on islands as little as three miles from the mainlandThe US has sent special forces to bases on islands controlled by Taiwan that are likely to be on the front line if China were to invade, officials have admitted.Reports of US troops training the Taiwanese armed forces were confirmed by the Taiwanese defence minister, Chiu Kuo-cheng. The reports mentioned the islands of Kinmen and Penghu, the first of which is three miles off the coast of China’s Fujian province, though the minister did not specify which “outlying islands” were involved.“The military may have some blind spots and shortcomings and therefore it is important to communicate with others who are friendly to us,” Chiu said in response to a question posed by local media.
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