Heartbreaking: Pakistan Airstrikes Kill 3 Afghan Cricketers; New Threat to India – Barkha Dutt
Tensions flare as Pakistan’s airstrikes hit Afghanistan. ORF’s Sushant Sareen decodes the collapse of peace and India’s cautious role.
In an interview with journalist Barkha Dutt, Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), analyzed the sudden breakdown of peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan following airstrikes that reportedly killed ten civilians, including three local cricketers. The attacks came just hours after a ceasefire mediated by Qatar collapsed, raising fears of a renewed regional crisis.
Sareen dismissed claims that former U.S. President Donald Trump had a role in the escalation, calling it another example of Pakistan’s “conspiracy culture.” He explained that Pakistan appears to be pushing Afghanistan toward internal conflict, possibly aiming for regime change through air raids and cross-border operations.
He further highlighted that tensions have existed since the Taliban regained control in 2021. Pakistan’s expectation of influence over Kabul backfired when the Taliban began asserting independence. According to Sareen, “Pakistan’s old strategy of supporting militant proxies has come full circle — the same tactics it used against India are now being used against them by Afghanistan.”
On India’s engagement with the Taliban, Sareen said New Delhi’s pragmatic approach focuses on ensuring Afghan soil is not used against India. While he called Taliban policies “abhorrent,” he supported limited engagement for India’s security interests.
As Barkha Dutt noted, the situation reflects deep-rooted distrust and a shifting balance in South Asia. The fragile peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan has once again collapsed, leaving the region on edge and diplomacy under strain.
© 2025 MOJO STORY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Powered by Hocalwire