Pakistan is confronting a severe threat from the Taliban, with its own creation now aiming for its destruction. Noor Wali Mehsud, chief of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has declared that the Afghan Taliban’s leader has ordered the invasion and conquest of Pakistan. This grave announcement follows a deadly border skirmish that claimed the lives of five Pakistani soldiers, intensifying Pakistan’s security anxieties.
The tables have turned dramatically, with Pakistan facing a direct threat from the militant groups it once supported. Afghan Taliban forces are actively involved in cross-border operations, while the TTP carries out systematic attacks within Pakistan, challenging the effectiveness of General Munir’s army. Mehsud himself has been observed operating openly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rallying TTP fighters and issuing directives to take over Pakistan, demonstrating a significant breakdown in Pakistani sovereignty.
An attempt by Pakistan to solicit assistance from the Afghan Taliban in controlling militant groups operating from Afghan soil during talks in Istanbul proved futile. The Afghan Taliban refused to take action against the TTP, instead proposing that Pakistan negotiate directly with the terrorist group. This indicates Afghanistan’s reluctance to curb the militant entities it harbors.
Visual evidence suggests a collapse of Pakistani military control, with TTP militants reportedly seizing and destroying Pakistani military assets and operating checkpoints in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Adding to the nation’s vulnerability, claims have been made by former intelligence officials that Pakistan may not possess complete autonomy over its nuclear weapons, with potential external control mechanisms in place due to fears of proliferation. Pakistan finds itself in a precarious position, facing internal and external threats simultaneously.