“Pakistan played its hand badly, its foreign policy a failure”: Former Diplomat KP Fabian on Pak-Afghan conflict

Former Indian diplomat KP Fabian has criticized Pakistan’s foreign policy as a “failure,” following Islamabad’s aggressive actions towards Afghanistan. His comments come amidst heightened tensions between the two countries, with Afghanistan’s Emirate Foreign Minister visiting Delhi during this period, reports 24brussels.

Fabian emphasized that the conflict should not be solely interpreted through the lens of the Durand Line, highlighting Pakistan’s pattern of aggressive behavior. He remarked, “This has happened when, maybe coincidentally, the Afghanistan Emirate Foreign Minister is in Delhi… I think Pakistan played its hand badly, probably was overbearing.”

He noted that the Afghan resistance has escalated tensions, stating, “The proud Afghans resisted, and now the relationship is very bad. Pakistan had carried out some strikes on Kabul, so Afghanistan has retaliated. On the whole, Pakistani policy has been, more or less, a failure.” Furthermore, he indicated that Afghanistan is eager to strengthen its ties with India, a situation that Pakistan finds troubling.

In a related development, the Armed Forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) executed retaliatory strikes against Pakistani military positions along the Durand Line late Saturday night. This action was taken in response to repeated violations of Afghan sovereignty and recent airstrikes on its territory, as reported by the Afghan Ministry of Defence.

The ministry’s statement on social media platform X announced, “Tonight, our armed forces conducted a successful retaliatory operation against the centres of Pakistani forces along the Durand Line in response to the repeated violations of Afghanistan’s sovereignty by the Pakistani military and airstrikes on Afghanistan’s territory. The operation concluded around midnight.”

The Afghan Ministry of Defence further cautioned that its forces are fully prepared to defend the nation’s borders. “If the Pakistani side violates Afghanistan’s sovereignty again, our armed forces are prepared to defend the country’s borders and will respond decisively,” the statement concluded. The ongoing conflict reflects the deepening rivalry and the complexities surrounding the geopolitical landscape in the region.

Balochistan’s agony deepens as another youth goes missing under Pakistani custody

Islamabad, October 12, 2025 — In yet another chilling reminder of Pakistan’s continued repression in Balochistan, a young man named Ashfaq Mushtaq has reportedly been abducted by Pakistani forces, the latest victim in a long series of enforced disappearances haunting the region, reports 24brussels.

Ashfaq’s family has not been informed of his whereabouts, heightening fears that he may meet a grim fate similar to other Baloch men who vanished under analogous circumstances. Naseem Baloch, commenting on X, indicated that security personnel, alongside local collaborators, raided Mushtaq’s residence earlier this month, abducting him without explanation or legal procedure.

This tragedy adds to the suffering of the Mushtaq family, already devastated by previous losses. In May 2025, Pakistani forces allegedly stormed the home of Lala Lateef, Ashfaq’s uncle, and shot him dead. Merely two months prior, Ashfaq’s cousin, Saif Lateef, was abducted along with eight other relatives in Mashkai, Balochistan. Their bodies were later discovered, leading rights groups to decry Pakistan’s ongoing campaign of brutality in the region.

The enforced disappearances exemplify a systematic pattern of violence in which Baloch identity itself is treated as a punishable offense. Over the years, thousands have disappeared, leaving their families in anguish and uncertainty. Pakistan’s military establishment has transformed Balochistan into a zone of fear, where dissent or activism can lead to dire consequences.

As global attention remains limited, families like that of Ashfaq Mushtaq continue to endure profound suffering. His disappearance serves as yet another painful reminder of the relentless cycle of oppression that characterizes life for the Baloch people, a reality that the international community can no longer afford to overlook.