Open war, closed border

An Afghan Border Protection Forces officer (left) and Pakistani Army soldiers (right) at the border crossing between the two countries in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, on Dec 5, 2025. Months after Pakistan declared an ‘open war’ on Afghanistan, neither side appears ready to back down, despite China’s efforts to mediate. — Tomas Munita/The New York Times

WHILE Pakistan played peacemaker in the US-Israeli war on Iran, it remains locked in a conflict of its own, battling its neighbour, Afghanistan, with no end in sight.

Since it declared an “open war” on Afghanistan in late February, the two countries have been clashing regularly, despite efforts by China to resolve the dispute by sending an envoy to both capitals and hosting talks.