Since the Taliban took control in Afghanistan two years ago, the region has witnessed escalating tensions and clashes along its borders. According to the Taliban’s interior ministry spokesman, Abdul Matin Qani, there have been at least 50 skirmishes involving Afghanistan and neighboring countries, including Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
One significant incident involved a near-conflict with Iran in May when deadly clashes erupted between Afghan and Iranian guards. Both sides accused each other of initiating the violence, resulting in casualties on both sides.
The International Afghanistan-Pakistan border has been a recurrent source of clashes since the Taliban’s rise to power. In one incident, a cross-border exchange of gunfire last November resulted in the death of a Pakistani security guard, leading to diplomatic engagements between the two countries.
Additionally, the rise of insecurity and an escalating terror campaign inside Pakistan, attributed to Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, has strained relations between the Taliban and Pakistan. The TTP’s attacks on Pakistan security forces, following the group’s ceasefire withdrawal with the Islamabad government, have further exacerbated tensions.
The two years since the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan have been marked by an increase in border clashes with neighboring countries and security challenges, including terrorism, affecting regional stability.
