Tageszeitung, 1 March 2026
In this extensive German-language article, AAN’s Thomas Ruttig summarises the latest events in the Pakistan-Afghanistan war, describes what he calls a ‘classical spiral of escalation’, immediately caused by TTP and IS terrorist attacks in Pakistan, and – in official Pakistani eyes – the Afghan Taleban regime’s unwillingness to tackle TTP on it territory. He also adds the underlying causes of the bilateral conflict: the unresolved border, the Durand Line, and Pakistan’s disappointment that the Taleban they have supported for so long, does not just act like a clientele regime.
He also looks at the regional dimensions: the India-Pakistan conflict, Pakistan’s attempt to woe President Trump and his expressed wish to get back control Bagram air base, and possible implications of the US/Israeli war in Iran.
Revisions:
This article was last updated on 2 Mar 2026
