Pakistan’s conflict with Afghanistan has gone under the radar after the war in West Asia gained centre stage. The long-simmering conflict between the two neighbours had intensified on February 26 with the capture of Pakistani military outposts by Afghan forces. This followed artillery and missile exchanges and Pakistan resorted to aerial bombing of civilian targets in Kabul.

If the war in the Gulf region expands, the US might need Pakistan’s help to reopen bases and help support ground incursion through Afghan territory. Russia’s lurking presence will demand Pakistan piggy-back on American forces. Amid the conflict with Taliban and against the backdrop of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) assets in the region, this may not be easy.

Memories of the US’s abrupt exit from its unsustainable campaign in Afghanistan (August 2021) are still fresh. The US left behind a huge military inventory, now under the Taliban’s control. That is military equipment worth close to $7 billion — almost equivalent to a year’s of Pakistan’s defence budget. This inventory was sufficient for the Taliban to raise or modernise up to 10-12 of its military divisions.

Pakistan has always considered Afghanistan as a key part of its........

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