Exclusive documents and battlefield reports obtained by this desk confirm that Taliban forces have launched a series of cross-border strikes into Pakistani territory, shattering the fragile calm that had held since the US withdrawal. The attacks, which began at dawn local time, targeted military outposts in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, with sources on the ground describing heavy shelling and ground incursions by Taliban fighters. The Taliban's so-called 'Islamic Emirate' has not officially claimed responsibility, but intelligence briefings indicate the operation was coordinated from Kabul.
Pakistan's military responded with artillery and airstrikes, but reports indicate at least 12 Pakistani soldiers killed and 30 wounded. The civilian toll is unclear, but hospitals in Peshawar are reporting a surge of casualties. The Pakistani government has summoned the Taliban's chargé d'affaires, demanding an immediate halt to hostilities.
This escalation follows weeks of heightened tensions along the Durand Line. Pakistani officials have long accused the Taliban of harbouring Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants who launch attacks on Pakistani soil. However, this is the first confirmed instance of regular Taliban army units directly engaging Pakistani forces. Sources inside the Pakistani intelligence community claim that the Taliban's Haqqani Network faction is driving the operation, seeking to expand its influence beyond Afghanistan's borders.
The implications are staggering. Pakistan has been the Taliban's most vital backer, providing sanctuary and medical care for their wounded during the 20-year war. Now that relationship lies in ruins. The strikes threaten to ignite a full-scale conflict between two nuclear-armed states, with Afghanistan's new rulers showing no inclination to back down.
Regional stability is fracturing. The US and China have issued cautious statements calling for restraint, but neither seems willing to intervene. The Taliban's rivals within Afghanistan, such as the Islamic State-Khorasan, are already exploiting the chaos. Meanwhile, India watches with keen interest, having long sought to outflank Pakistan by courting the Taliban.
This desk has uncovered documents suggesting that the Taliban's military command believes Pakistan is on the verge of collapse. They see an opportunity to reclaim territory they consider 'lost' to the British colonial boundary. But the risk is immense: Pakistan's army is battle-hardened and backed by a nuclear arsenal. If this escalates, the world may witness the first nuclear crisis of the post-American era.
The question now: how far will the Taliban go? And will Pakistan's civilian government retain control of its own military? Sources inside the Prime Minister's office describe a 'state of emergency' preparation. The next 48 hours will determine whether this remains a border skirmish or spirals into a war that could redraw the map of South Asia.
