The latest round of conflict between Pakistan and the Taliban continued this past week, including airstrikes, cross-border attacks, targeted operations, and a car bombing. The renewed direct clashes that began on September 18 ended a nearly three-month lull in fighting between the former allies.

The Pakistani Air Force conducted airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan reportedly targeting terrorist training centers in response to a recent complex suicide attack in western Pakistan. The Taliban denied involvement in the attack and promised an “appropriate response” to Pakistan’s airstrikes.

Last weekend, the Pakistani military targeted jihadi training camps in Afghanistan. After the Afghan Taliban, which shelters the terrorists, responded by attacking Pakistani military outposts, the Pakistani military launched Operation Righteous Fury on February 27, striking multiple targets throughout Afghanistan.

Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have entered into a ceasefire after accusing each other of another round of deadly fighting along their shared border, this time at the Afghan border crossing at Spin Boldak in Kandahar province. The Afghan Taliban’s support for the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan (TTP) remains the main point of contention between the two otherwise longtime allies.
