Pakistan's Afghanistan Strikes: More Than Just the TTP?

Pakistan's recent airstrikes inside Afghanistan, beginning in October 2025, have inflicted heavy civilian casualties and widespread destruction. A particularly devastating strike on March 16, 2026, hit a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, killing 269 civilians and injuring 122, according to United Nations figures. Amnesty International has called for an investigation into this strike, deeming it a potential war crime.

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The deadliest came on March 16, 2026, when a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul was hit, killing 269 civilians and injuring 122, according to United Nations figures.

Islamabad asserts that its military operations are aimed at the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group it accuses the Afghan Taliban of harboring. However, the Afghan Taliban authorities deny supporting the TTP and maintain that the insurgency is an internal Pakistani issue. Despite Pakistan's claims, these strikes have not resulted in the elimination of any prominent TTP leaders or commanders, raising questions about the true objectives.

The roots of the TTP conflict are deeply embedded within Pakistan itself. The movement traces back to a 1994 uprising led by Sufi Mohammad to impose Sharia law, with the TTP formally uniting various factions under Baitullah Mehsud in 2009. The group's history predates the Afghan Taliban's rise, and it has survived numerous Pakistani military operations over two decades.

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In a report released on July 21, Amnesty International called on Pakistani authorities to explain the strike and urged that it be investigated as a possible war crime.

Analysts suggest Pakistan's actions may be driven by more than just the TTP threat. Historically, Pakistan has been accused of leveraging militant groups to achieve its geopolitical aims in Afghanistan and against India. Its strategic involvement during the Soviet-Afghan war, with U.S. backing, fostered militant networks and radicalization, from which the TTP has also benefited. This complex history suggests a multifaceted conflict extending beyond the immediate TTP issue.

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Pakistan says its operations target the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (the Pakistan Taliban or TTP), which it accuses the Afghan Taliban of supporting. The Taliban authorities deny supporting the group and insist the insurgency is Pakistan’s internal problem.