The death toll is climbing. Pakistani airstrikes across the border into Afghanistan have killed at least 28 people, according to Taliban officials. The strikes hit multiple provinces, including Khost and Kunar. Westminster is watching closely. The Foreign Office has issued a carefully worded call for restraint. A phrase that will raise eyebrows: 'protect civilians.' That is a direct hit on Islamabad's claims of targeting 'terrorist hideouts.'
The numbers are grim. Twenty-eight dead. Mostly women and children, initial reports suggest. The Taliban are furious. They have summoned the Pakistani chargé d'affaires. In Kabul, the rhetoric is hot. In London, it is cold calculation. The UK position is delicate. We have strategic interests in both Islamabad and Kabul. Pakistan is a key ally. But the optics of bombing civilians? Unacceptable.
Downing Street is cagey. A source tells me the PMs team is 'monitoring closely.' That is code for 'we don't know what to do yet.' The Foreign Secretary has spoken to her Pakistani counterpart. The readout was 'frank.' Diplomatic shorthand for a row. The UK is also coordinating with the US. The Americans have bigger fish to fry. But they cannot ignore a regional escalation.
The real game is in the UN Security Council. The UK holds a pen on Afghanistan. A draft statement is circulating. The language is being massaged. Expect a call for an independent investigation. That will infuriate Pakistan. But the UK needs to show moral leadership. The voters are watching. The Guardian will have a field day.
Inside the Foreign Office, there is a split. The South Asia desk wants a tough stance. The Pakistan desk wants to protect the relationship. The winner? Probably a muddy compromise. The UK will urge restraint but stop short of condemnation. That is the Whitehall way. Keep everyone unhappy.
The Taliban are not standing idly by. They have threatened retaliation. That is a nightmare scenario. A full-blown Pakistan-Afghanistan war? Not likely. But border skirmishes? Very possible. The UK has troops in the region. Not many. But any escalation puts them at risk. The MoD is briefing the Defence Secretary. A private war cabinet meeting is likely.
The opposition is circling. Labour has demanded a Commons statement. The SNP are calling the strikes 'indefensible.' The PMs team is nervous. They do not want this to become a political liability. Expect a statement from the Foreign Office later today. The language will be cautious. But the subtext will be clear: Pakistan, you have gone too far.
The real question is what happens next. Will Pakistan apologise? Unlikely. Will the Taliban retaliate? Possibly. The UK is in a tight spot. It needs to balance principles with pragmatism. That is the art of diplomacy. But 28 dead civilians? That is a stain that is hard to wash off. Watch this space.
