Pakistan wary of militant attacks after Afghanistan air strikes

Key Insight

Afghan‑Pakistani border clash over safe‑haven doctrine raises regional security alarms

Key Facts

1. In March 2026, Pakistan alleged that Afghanistan’s air strikes targeted militant groups operating from Afghan soil, prompting Islamabad to warn of retaliatory attacks.
2. Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior reported a 30% rise in cross‑border infiltration attempts along the Durand Line in Q1 2026.
3. Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) denied involvement, stating militancy is a ‘Pakistan internal problem’.
4. Both nations are signatories to the 2002 Afghanistan‑Pakistan Bilateral Counter‑Terrorism Agreement, obligating each to prevent use of its territory for hostile acts.
5. UN Security Council Resolution 2250 (2015) on counter‑terrorism and the SAARC Regional Counter‑Terrorism Strategy (2020) emphasize cooperative action against cross‑border terrorism.
6. India’s Ministry of External Affairs expressed concern, urging adherence to the ‘safe‑haven doctrine’ under the UN Charter.

Background

The Durand Line has long been a flash‑point for cross‑border militancy, with both Pakistan and Afghanistan accusing each other of providing safe‑havens. The recent air strikes and diplomatic spats test the 2002 bilateral counter‑terrorism pact and broader regional security frameworks like SAARC and UN resolutions, making the issue central to GS‑2 topics of internal security and India‑Pakistan‑Afghanistan relations.

Mains Angle

GS‑2: Discuss the challenges and prospects of Indo‑Pak‑Afghan security cooperation in curbing cross‑border terrorism, with reference to recent 2026 incidents and existing bilateral agreements.