Delhi and Kabul are thinking that "the enemy's enemy is a friend" with an eye on Pakistan, writes Happymon Jacob.

Cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan reached a fever pitch, with Pakistan carrying out airstrikes in Kabul.

"Pakistan has broken the ceasefire and bombed three locations in Paktika" province, a senior Taliban official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Afghanistan will retaliate."

The Taliban responded with contradictory stances in the effort to rescue women and girls who were wounded and left homeless. That's a reflection of tensions between hardliners and pragmatists.

Despite the challenges to peace, both know they will hurt from continued hostilities – and need a path to peace.

Our investigation, in partnership with Lighthouse Reports, identified 110 killings of former Afghan National Defense and Security Forces troops since 2023.

As it elevates its relationship with India, Afghanistan’s Taliban government is striking a delicate balance in the region.

The Taliban has demanded that its flag fly over the Afghan embassy in Berlin. The regime wants to replace the Afghan national flag with its white flag with black writing, which is an Islamic declaration of faith.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khwaja Asif said that India "could play dirty at the border" and claimed Pakistan was ready for a "two-front war" amid border tensions with Afghanistan. He made the remarks in an interview with Samaa Tv while responding to a question about the possibility of Indian provocations along the border.