How Pakistan’s ‘strategic depth’ on terrorism turned into a ‘strategic trap’

Pakistan’s long-pursued quest for “strategic depth” in Afghanistan has backfired, becoming a “strategic trap” as the Taliban assert independence and militant violence surges across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. With Pakistan’s institutions weakening, a former prime minister held incommunicado, and terror attacks rising sharply, the state appears to be unravelling rather than merely unstable. The Taliban now openly challenge Pakistan through border clashes, refusal to recognise the Durand Line, and tolerance of TTP sanctuaries. Economic fragility, reliance on IMF bailouts, and loss of leverage in Kabul have further eroded Pakistan’s strategic position, creating cascading risks for the broader region.