Tensions on the Edge: What’s Happening Between Pakistan and Afghanistan

13 November 2025

Paul Francis

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The relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan has always been uneasy, but in recent weeks it has taken a serious turn. Cross-border clashes, air strikes, failed peace talks and growing accusations have pushed both nations into one of their most dangerous stand-offs in years. For many observers, the dispute has become a test of whether the region can avoid another long and destabilising conflict.

Helicopter flying over a sandy desert with rocky mountains in the background. Clear blue sky, conveying a sense of adventure and isolation.

A Fragile Border and a Growing Crisis

The Pakistan–Afghanistan border stretches for more than 1,600 miles across harsh mountains and remote valleys. It is one of the most difficult borders in the world to control. Communities on both sides share cultural and ethnic ties, yet it is also an area long associated with insurgency, smuggling and shifting alliances.

Tensions rose sharply in October 2025 after Pakistan accused militants based in Afghanistan of launching deadly attacks on its territory. The main group blamed was the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an organisation ideologically aligned with the Afghan Taliban. Islamabad claims that the TTP uses Afghan soil as a safe haven to regroup and plan strikes. The Afghan government, run by the Taliban since 2021, has repeatedly denied this, insisting it does not allow any group to attack a neighbouring country.

In response to a series of cross-border raids, Pakistan carried out air strikes inside Afghanistan, reportedly targeting militant positions near Kabul and across border provinces such as Khost and Paktika. Afghanistan retaliated with its own artillery fire along the frontier, resulting in casualties on both sides.

Diplomatic Frustration and Failed Talks

The violence sparked international concern, prompting Qatar and Turkey to step in as mediators. Both countries helped broker a temporary ceasefire in mid-October, but the calm was short-lived. Within weeks, the agreement had collapsed, with each side accusing the other of breaking the terms.

Talks held in Istanbul were meant to restore dialogue, yet they ended in stalemate. Pakistan demanded firm guarantees that militants operating from Afghanistan would be disarmed or expelled. Afghanistan, in turn, accused Pakistan of violating its sovereignty with repeated air operations. Efforts by Iran to offer mediation have also yet to produce results.

This latest breakdown highlights a deeper mistrust between the two governments. Pakistan once saw the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan as a strategic opportunity to ensure a friendly regime on its western border. Instead, the relationship has soured, with Islamabad viewing the Taliban’s inability to rein in the TTP as a major threat to its internal security.

Why the Situation Matters

The border conflict is more than a local issue; it has major implications for the entire region. Pakistan’s western frontier has long been volatile, and instability there risks spilling into its own border provinces such as Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. If the violence continues, Pakistan may face a surge of displaced civilians and renewed domestic attacks from TTP factions.

Camouflage uniform with Pakistan flag patch, "Special Services Wing" badge, and pencil in pocket. Hand holding a paper, suggesting readiness.

For Afghanistan, the fighting threatens what remains of its already fragile economy. Cross-border trade routes with Pakistan are crucial lifelines for goods, fuel and humanitarian supplies. When the border closes or becomes unsafe, Afghan markets suffer shortages and price spikes, deepening the country’s ongoing economic crisis.

Neighbouring countries are also on alert. Iran, which shares a long border with both Afghanistan and Pakistan, has offered to mediate out of concern that the fighting could spread or disrupt trade routes. Further north, Central Asian nations such as Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are worried about militant movements and refugee flows across their southern borders.

Even China is watching closely. It has invested heavily in Pakistan’s infrastructure through the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship element of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. Escalating violence could undermine those projects and threaten Chinese personnel working in the region.

The Broader Picture: Security and Trust

Flags of Afghanistan and Pakistan on a detailed map with mountains, highlighted by warm sunlight, creating a diplomatic tone.

At the heart of the crisis is a question of control. Pakistan believes that the Afghan Taliban can restrain militant groups operating from within its borders, but evidence so far suggests that the Taliban either cannot or will not take decisive action. Some analysts argue that the Afghan leadership faces internal divisions, with hardline elements unwilling to confront groups that once fought alongside them.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military leadership faces pressure at home to show strength. Repeated attacks by the TTP have killed hundreds of Pakistani soldiers and civilians over the past two years. Failure to respond decisively could be seen as weakness by a population already frustrated with economic hardship and political instability.

Both sides, then, are trapped in a cycle of accusation and retaliation, where every incident deepens mistrust.

Possible Futures

If diplomacy fails, further escalation remains a real risk. More air strikes or cross-border raids could ignite a wider conflict that neither country can afford. However, there are also reasons for cautious optimism. Regional powers, including Turkey, Qatar and Iran, have a vested interest in avoiding another prolonged war. Their mediation efforts, while limited so far, may keep communication channels open.

Trade could also serve as a bridge rather than a barrier. Pakistan and Afghanistan have both expressed interest in expanding economic cooperation through transit agreements and energy links. If stability can be restored, these could offer incentives for restraint.

The real test will be whether both governments can separate militant issues from broader political disputes. Without that, the ceasefire agreements will remain temporary, and the border will continue to be a flashpoint for years to come.

Impact Beyond the Border

The outcome of this conflict could shape regional security for the foreseeable future. A stable Afghanistan benefits not only Pakistan but also Central Asia and even Europe, which has faced migration pressures after every major Afghan crisis. Conversely, a breakdown in relations could fuel extremism, disrupt trade routes and draw in larger powers seeking influence.

For now, the international community is urging restraint. The question is whether Pakistan and Afghanistan can find common ground before local skirmishes evolve into something much larger.

Current Most Read

Why the Future of Work Depends on Emotional Intelligence, Not Automation

Paul Francis
Oct 15
4 min read

In the rush to embrace automation, it is easy to believe that the future belongs entirely to machines. Artificial intelligence can already write reports, analyse data, and even compose music. Algorithms make hiring decisions, handle customer queries, and optimise entire business models. Yet as technology accelerates, a quieter truth is emerging: the skills that will matter most in the workplaces of tomorrow are the most human ones.

Woman leads a discussion with three colleagues at a table with papers. Brick wall and shelves in the background. Focused, collaborative mood.

Emotional intelligence, or EQ, is becoming a defining measure of success. The ability to read a room, communicate clearly, adapt to change, and manage relationships cannot be replicated by code. These are the traits that make organisations resilient, and they are becoming the foundation of the modern workforce.

Beyond the Automation Hype

The global conversation about the “future of work” has focused heavily on what machines can do. Reports from McKinsey and the World Economic Forum predict that automation could affect up to half of all current jobs within the next decade. Routine tasks are already being delegated to software systems that can operate faster and more consistently than people.

But automation is not replacing human value. It is reshaping it. As repetitive tasks vanish, demand is growing for roles that require judgement, empathy and creativity. These are not easily automated because they depend on social understanding and moral reasoning — the ability to interpret nuance, read intention, and make decisions in complex, unpredictable situations.

A 2023 LinkedIn Global Skills Report found that “human skills” such as communication, teamwork, and adaptability were among the fastest-growing priorities for employers worldwide. The same study revealed that managers now rate emotional intelligence as highly as technical expertise when evaluating leadership potential.

People collaborating at a wooden table with laptops and notebooks. A woman writes notes. Bright window background, casual and focused mood.

What Emotional Intelligence Really Means

The term “emotional intelligence” was popularised by psychologist Daniel Goleman in the 1990s, but its relevance has never been greater. EQ describes the capacity to recognise, understand and manage emotions in oneself and others. It involves five core elements: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.

In practical terms, EQ shapes how people respond to stress, conflict, and change. It affects decision-making, leadership, and the ability to build trust. In an era of hybrid work and cross-cultural collaboration, these abilities are critical.

A 2022 study by Harvard Business Review found that teams led by managers with high emotional intelligence reported 25% higher productivity and 30% higher employee engagement. The researchers concluded that emotional intelligence “multiplies” the impact of technical competence by improving communication and morale.

Hybrid Work and the Empathy Deficit

The shift to remote and hybrid work has made emotional intelligence more important and more difficult to maintain. Without the subtle cues of body language or tone, misunderstandings can escalate quickly. Messages that would feel neutral in person can seem abrupt or cold online.

A report by Microsoft’s Work Trend Index found that 54% of hybrid employees felt “disconnected” from their teams. Leaders who could bridge that distance through empathy and consistent communication saw higher retention and satisfaction rates.

In this environment, emotional intelligence is not a “soft” skill but a structural one. It determines whether distributed teams can stay cohesive and whether organisations can preserve culture across screens and time zones.

Why Emotional Skills Outlast Technology

Technical skills evolve quickly. Programming languages go out of fashion, platforms change, and entire roles appear and disappear with each technological wave. Emotional intelligence, by contrast, compounds over time. It grows with experience and reflection.

Research from Yale University’s Centre for Emotional Intelligence shows that people with higher EQ handle change better and experience lower burnout levels. They are more likely to stay engaged during organisational transitions and less likely to disengage in high-pressure environments.

This adaptability is becoming the new professional currency. As one HR director for a global financial firm told the Financial Times: “We can teach data analysis in six months. It takes a lifetime to teach empathy.”

Building Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace

While EQ comes more naturally to some people, it can be developed. Many organisations are now investing in emotional intelligence training for managers, pairing it with coaching and feedback.

Practical ways to build EQ include:

Regular self-assessment: Encouraging reflection on how emotions influence behaviour and decision-making.
Active listening exercises: Practising focus and empathy during conversations.
Feedback culture: Creating environments where people can safely discuss mistakes and learn from them.
Cross-team collaboration: Exposing employees to diverse perspectives to improve social awareness.

Companies that integrate these practices report stronger leadership pipelines and fewer interpersonal conflicts. In Deloitte’s 2023 Human Capital Trends survey, 72% of executives said empathy and emotional skills were now “essential leadership capabilities,” up from 45% in 2018.

A Competitive Advantage That Machines Cannot Match

Automation continues to reshape industries, but it also amplifies the importance of human strengths. As routine work becomes digitised, emotional intelligence becomes the key differentiator in how teams innovate, manage risk, and serve customers.

In client-facing industries such as healthcare, education and consulting, empathy directly correlates with outcomes. In creative and strategic fields, emotional intelligence drives collaboration and original thought. Even in highly technical sectors like engineering or data science, emotionally intelligent teams communicate better and solve problems faster.

The future of work will not belong to those who compete with machines, but to those who can work alongside them. Machines can calculate, but they cannot comfort. They can optimise, but they cannot inspire.

The New Definition of Smart

In the twentieth century, intelligence was defined by logic and knowledge. In the twenty-first, it will be defined by connection. The ability to understand people, adapt to change and act with integrity will shape the most successful organisations of the next generation.

As the workplace becomes more complex, emotional intelligence will no longer be a bonus trait but a basic requirement. It is the one skill that automation cannot replace and the one that makes every other skill more effective.