November 27, 2025
Diplomacy or operations? Testing Pakistan’s options after the latest Pak-Afghan bloodshed
The recent bloodshed along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border has once again forced Islamabad to confront an old dilemma that is how to deal with militants who threaten Pakistan’s peace but operate from across a border that Kabul refuses to police. Following precision strikes reportedly targeting Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Noor WaliMehsud, violence escalated, border crossings shut down, and civilians fled in fear. Once again, Pakistan faces the choice between limited military action and a broader diplomatic push. The way forward lies not in isolated strikes, but in robust regional diplomacy combined with a large-scale, coordinated joint operation that leaves no militant
