When the Taliban marched back into Kabul some half-decade ago, assurances were made to the world and most directly to neighbouring nations that Afghan territory would never again become an engine for regional instability. Yet, the reality unfolding across the border tells a vastly different story. Behind a wall of official denials, a deeply entrenched militant nexus has taken root. It is turning eastern Afghanistan into a well-fortified sanctuary, a sophisticated training ground and a staging platform for relentless cross-border violence targeting its neighbour, Pakistan.

The discrepancy between rhetoric and reality is laid bare on the ground. Detailed dossiers have identified hundreds of Afghan nationals killed while participating in armed strikes inside Pakistani territory. These are not mere stateless mercenaries or anonymous combatants; their names, residential addresses, and family lineages trace directly back to Afghan towns. Perhaps most telling is what happens after these fighters fall. Their bodies are returned home to public funerals where local Taliban regime........

© Daily Times