Pakistan has announced that it targeted seven camps along its border with Afghanistan, citing a response to a string of suicide bombings orchestrated by armed groups it alleges are supported by the Taliban in Kabul. One of the significant attacks mentioned included one that directly struck a mosque in Islamabad, raising concerns over the deteriorating security landscape in the region.

The airstrikes come amidst a backdrop of increasing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly after the Taliban regained control in Kabul in August 2021. Relations, which were historically close, have soured, leading to sporadic clashes and heightened military actions along the border. The Pakistani government states that these selective strikes were based on intelligence information and aimed primarily at terrorist refuges that have posed a direct threat to its national security.

Additionally, a Pakistani official has confirmed that one of the targeted groups is affiliated with the Islamic State (IS), which complicates the situation further given that IS has been actively expanding its influence in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. As both nations grapple with internal security challenges, the potential for further escalations and retaliatory actions remains a pressing concern for regional stability.