Has Kabul quietly begun cooperating after weeks of halted movement at international border crossings? If so, could this quiet engagement evolve into a formal counterterrorism framework? It is too early to tell. What is clear, however, is the wave of belligerence that recently swept across the border, with ministers on both sides trading accusations and posturing aggressively.

Pakistan appears to have opted for hard measures, but only after fully exhausting diplomatic avenues. The country's patience had worn thin over what it sees as the principal source of tension: TTP sanctuaries inside Afghanistan. Several rounds of talks — first in Doha and then in Istanbul since mid-October — consumed many days, yet ended without progress, prompting Islamabad to tighten the screws further.

The atmosphere has remained toxic ever since the defence and information ministers began issuing fluctuating and fiery statements. Both framed the crisis as India-sponsored proxy terrorism operating through Afghan territory. This narrative pushed soft diplomacy to the margins and opened the space for inflammatory rhetoric on both sides.

But this raises a critical question: if India is believed to be the puppeteer behind the threat, does the leadership in Islamabad realistically expect long-term results from punitive steps alone? Measures that directly affect the lives of farmers, traders, patients and daily-wage workers are eroding goodwill and deepening resentment. Even if Kabul........

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