Pakistan finds itself on a dangerous crossroads grappling with internal unrest, economic collapse, and fractured ties with nearly all its neighbours. The recent ceasefire agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Doha may have temporarily paused border hostilities, but the mistrust between the Taliban regime and Islamabad runs deep and may reignite soon.
Durand Line Dispute and Afghan Tensions
At the heart of the friction lies the long-standing Durand Line issue. Afghanistan refuses to recognize it as an international border, claiming territories beyond the line as historically Afghan. Even Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had to amend its statement, replacing “border” with “Durand Line” after Kabul’s protest.
Islamabad accuses Kabul of harbouring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, while the Taliban recall Pakistan’s role in aiding the U.S.-led operations that ousted them in 2001. The Taliban’s outreach to India and the visit of Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to New Delhi have only deepened Islamabad’s unease.
Cracks Within: Provinces on Boil
Pakistan’s biggest challenge, however, lies within. Violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Sindh continues to rise, while Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) simmers with anger over Islamabad’s exploitation.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Pakistan Army’s operations against alleged militants often target civilians. In September, airstrikes in Tirah Valley killed 30 people, including women and children. The Islamabad-based Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) reported that 71% of all violence-related fatalities in 2025 occurred in this province alone.
In Balochistan, violence has surged by 25% this year. On October 21, over a dozen Pakistani soldiers were killed in clashes with Baloch armed groups in Zehri tehsil. Local rights groups have documented 33 extrajudicial killings and 84 forced disappearances since June evidence of Islamabad’s continued suppression of dissent. Despite being rich in minerals, Balochistan remains plagued by poverty, unemployment, and hunger.
Sindh, too, is increasingly restive. A bomb attack on the Jaffar Express in early October highlighted rising instability. Sindhis accuse Islamabad of economic exploitation and cultural erasure through Urdu imposition many now openly call for independence.
Meanwhile, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir recently witnessed massive protests in Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Mirpur against arbitrary electricity taxes. The Pakistan Army opened fire on protestors, killing 10 people and injuring many more. Though Islamabad later conceded to protestors’ demands, anger continues to simmer beneath the surface.
Strained Ties with Neighbours
Pakistan’s relations with its neighbours have hit new lows. With Iran, mutual airstrikes in January 2024 exposed the growing hostility between the two countries over cross-border militancy. In the past decade, several similar escalations have occurred, with Tehran repeatedly accusing Islamabad of sheltering terrorist groups.
Its relationship with India remains the most volatile. Pakistan’s Army Chief recently threatened a “decisive response” to India, following skirmishes near the border with Afghanistan. Earlier this year, India launched Operation Sindoor after Pakistan-based terrorists killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam. The operation destroyed multiple terror camps before being paused at Islamabad’s request a humiliation for Pakistan’s military establishment.
A State on Edge
Pakistan’s decades-long obsession with military supremacy has drained its resources and crippled governance. The recent 20% hike in the defence budget, despite the IMF bailout, reveals Islamabad’s misplaced priorities. The costs are evident: poor infrastructure, collapsing education and health systems, and widespread food insecurity.
A recent FAO report estimated that 11 million Pakistanis mostly in Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa face acute food crises. Yet, Islamabad continues to silence dissent rather than reform.
Pakistan today is fractured socially, economically, and politically. Its internal instability, combined with its isolation from neighbours like India, Afghanistan, and Iran, reflects a state that has lost its moral and strategic compass. Until Islamabad rethinks its military-first approach and invests in reconciliation and reform, it will continue to stand on the edge imploding from within while lashing out beyond its borders.
