Why Are Pakistan and Afghanistan at Odds?

Pakistan’s repeated accusations that the Afghan Taliban shelters armed groups targeting its territory lie at the heart of tensions between the two neighbours.

Islamabad says these groups operate from inside Afghanistan, using Afghan territory to plan and carry out attacks against Pakistan. The allegations place cross-border security at the centre of the dispute.

Pakistan’s accusations distinguish between the armed groups it blames for the attacks and the Afghan Taliban, which it accuses of providing them with shelter.

The central issue is therefore not only who carries out the attacks, but where those responsible are able to operate. Pakistan’s position puts the Taliban’s alleged role in allowing that activity under scrutiny.

The allegations alone do not establish the extent of any Taliban involvement. They do, however, explain a core source of friction: Pakistan sees threats originating across the border and holds the Afghan Taliban responsible for harbouring the groups behind them.