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Pakistan-Afghanistan War Update
Cross-border hostilities continue into ninth day
527 Taliban fighters killed in action so far; UN says 56 Afghan civilians killed in conflict
On 06 March, The Express Tribune and Dawn reported that cross-border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan entered the ninth day, after the former launched “Operation Ghazab Lil Haq” following skirmishes last week. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Friday that 527 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed, while more than 755 were injured during the ongoing operation. As per the latest numbers, Pakistan also destroyed 237 Taliban checkposts, while Pakistani forces had captured 38 others. Additionally, 255 tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery guns were also destroyed, and air strikes targeted 62 locations across Afghanistan. According to security sources, Pakistan destroyed several checkposts in the Kurram sector along the border and neutralised terrorist hideouts adjacent to the Zhob and Qila Saifullah sectors.
Meanwhile, United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk said that 56 Afghan civilians had been killed since fighting intensified last week. He also mentioned that nearly half of them were children. "Civilians on both sides of the border are now having to flee from air strikes, heavy artillery fire, mortar shelling and gunfire," Turk said. He added that 129 Afghans were also injured over the last week. Turk mentioned that around 115,000 Afghans and 3000 Pakistanis had been displaced by the fighting in the past week. Hostilities between the two countries intensified after Afghanistan retaliated to Pakistani airstrikes on terrorist hideouts in late February. Pakistan responded to the attacks by launching a comprehensive operation targeting the Afghan Taliban and has said that it won’t end the operation until Kabul provides guarantees that terrorism will no longer be supported from across the border. A few days back, Türkiye’s Recep Tayyip Erdo?an said that it was willing to help re-establish the ceasefire between the two countries, while Russia urged both sides to cease the fighting and resort to dialogue. (“527 Afghan Taliban killed, 237 checkposts destroyed as Operation Ghazab Lil Haq enters ninth day: Tarar,” The Express Tribune, 06 March 2026; “'Righteous Fury': Operation Ghazab lil-Haq,” Dawn, 07 March 2026)
In Brief
EXTERNAL
Pakistan presses Iran for restraint as Dar pushes diplomacy amid widening regional tensions
On 07 March, The Express Tribune reported that Pakistan is making a big push for diplomacy in the wake of the escalating Iran-Gulf crisis. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, on 6 March, rang up Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and asked him to be careful not to allow the tensions to spiral further in the region. Dar said the attacks on the Gulf countries could destabilise the already volatile region. Both foreign ministers agreed to stay in close contact with each other. On 07 March, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif telephoned Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to strongly condemn the alleged drone attack on Nakhchivan and conveyed Pakistan’s solidarity with Azerbaijan on the unfortunate incident. Pakistan also expressed concern over reported attacks on Turkiye and Azerbaijan and said all issues should be resolved through dialogue by reducing tensions. (“Pakistan urges Iran to avoid Gulf attacks,” The Express Tribune, 7 March 2026)
Pakistan restores Saudi flight operations and partially resumes Gulf routes amid regional air travel disruption
On 6 March, The Express Tribune reported that Pakistan had re-launched all direct flights to the kingdom and had begun some of the international flights from Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi to Dubai and other Gulf countries. In response to the reduction in air travel in the aftermath of the violence in the Middle East, more than 570 flights destined for Gulf countries were cancelled on Emirates, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia, PIA, Airblue, Flydubai and Qatar Airways. Estimated losses to the national exchequer would be around Rs20 billion. The authorities have assured that they will bring back all the stranded Pakistanis in Iran and the Gulf countries through the country’s embassies, consulates and special desks. (“Pakistan fully restores flight operations to Saudi Arabia: state media,” The Express Tribune, 6 March 2026)
Pakistan steps up border response as nearly 2,000 people arrive from Iran through Taftan
On 7 March, The Express Tribune reported that 1,979 people entered Pakistan at the Taftan border. This group had the families of 37 diplomats with them. Many Pakistanis and some others went to the border because of the fighting in Iran. Sarfraz Bugti is the chief minister of Balochistan. The provincial government has put all departments on high alert. The provincial government is working with federal authorities. Immigration officials, security agencies, and local administration are helping with arrivals. They are giving people the support they need. The update said more people now have problems. People find it harder to leave Iran. Students and people who returned spoke about explosions. Tehran had many problems. Many people could not talk to others because the internet did not work. (“Gulf war: 1,979 Pakistanis arrive via Taftan,” The Express Tribune, 7 March 2026)
ECONOMY
Shipping lines decide to drop UAE-bound cargo at Karachi
On 7 March, Dawn reported that amid the ongoing crisis in West Asia, the shipping lines have decided to drop UAE-bound cargo at Karachi. Two cargo ships, MV TS Tacoma and MV TS Sydney, arrived at Karachi on Friday and discharged a large number of containers belonging to TS Line, Heung-A, Sinokor and many NVOCCS as transhipment cargo. Pakistan Ships Agent Association (PSAA) Chairman, in his statement, emphasised that there is less possibility of opening of the Strait of Hormuz, looking at the present situation. He also believed that the volume of transhipment cargoes is expected to continue increasing over time, ultimately benefiting the Pakistan shipment sector. (“Karachi Port tranships cargo to UAE,” Dawn, 07 March 2026)
Govt increases petrol prices by PKR 55 following supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz
On 07 March, Dawn reported that prices of petrol and diesel increased staggeringly by PKR 55 per litre, as per government decisions. This government announcement came just after yesterday's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's assurance that the country has sufficient reserves for 25 days. The ex-depot price of high-speed diesel was fixed at PKR 335.86 per litre for the coming week, up by about 20 per cent from PKR 280.86 per litre. Similarly, the ex-depot price of petrol was revised to PKR 321.17 per litre from PKR 266.17 per litre, reflecting an increase of around 17 per cent. As Pakistan relies heavily on oil supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been severely affected by the ongoing conflict, this has forced the government to increase petrol prices. (“'Petrol bomb' falls on Pakistan amid war,” Dawn, 7 March 2026)
SPI records rise in weekly inflation by 0.37 per cent
On 07 March, Dawn reported that the rise in prices of chicken, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and petrol, among others, led to an increase in Pakistan's weekly inflation by 0.37 per cent. This is calculated using the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) maintained by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. It is calculated on a weekly basis to assess the price movements of essential commodities at a shorter interval of time to review the price situation in the country. However, overall inflation remains relatively contained compared with previous years; food and energy price volatility continues to drive short-term fluctuations in weekly inflation readings. (“Weekly inflation edges up as chicken, fuel prices rise,” Dawn, 7 March 2026)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
Protests in Karachi demand expulsion of US Envoy after deadly consulate clashes
On 07 March, Dawn reported that large protest rallies, including a women-only demonstration, were held in Karachi against the reported assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader and the killing of 11 protesters near the US Consulate last week. Organised by Dukhtaran-i-Rahbar-i-Moazzam, participants marched from Mehfil Shah-i-Khurasan to Imambargah Ali Raza carrying banners, portraits and Iranian flags while chanting anti-US and anti-Israel slogans. Speakers termed the killing a tragedy for the Muslim world and paid tribute to those who died on 01 March. Organisers demanded the expulsion of the US ambassador, closure of US missions, legal action over protester deaths and release of detainees. Separate demonstrations by Jamaat-i-Islami were held across Karachi and other Sindh cities amid heightened security and severe traffic disruptions. (“Protesters hold marches across Sindh to condemn Khamenei’s assassination,” Dawn, 07 March 2026)
SECURITY
Major blast rocks North Waziristan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
On 07 March, Dawn reported that a major blast rocked the Chashma Sarbandki checkpost on the Bannu-Miranshah main road in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district. In the blast, one person was killed and 19 others, including two security personnel, were injured. As per police reports, the blast was caused by the detonation of explosives in a vehicle near the checkpost. This is the second major blast in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the last three weeks. (“1 dead, 19 injured in blast on Bannu-Miranshah road in KPs North Waziristan: officials,” Dawn, 7 March 2026)
Editorials/Opinions
Middle East crisis
Syed Mohammad Ali, “What the conflict with Iran means for Pakistan,” The Express Tribune, 06 March 2026
"The US-Israel attacks on Iran, including the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei, has triggered a regional crisis whose shockwaves are already being felt from the Gulf to South Asia. For Pakistan, the timing could hardly be worse. Islamabad is simultaneously engaged in a growing conflict with Afghanistan which has been described as "open war", while already struggling with persistent militancy and economic fragility."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596003/what-the-conflict-with-iran-means-for-pakistan
Editorial, “Seven days and counting,” The Express Tribune, 07 March 2026
"A 'pre-emptive' war on Iran launched by the US and Israel is now taking a 'religious' dimension. The Oval Office at the White House was seen holding a prayer congregation seeking divine help, as the Pentagon and the Congress huddled for finding a way out of the mess. Per the exit polls in the US, a staggering 65% of people are against this warmongering, and are seriously concerned on the upcoming socio-economic plight."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596188/seven-days-and-counting
External
Imtiaz Gul, “China's moment for action?,” The Express Tribune, 07 March 2026
"As Israeli-American military firepower brutally targets innocent civilians in Iran, one wonders if China will use its economic and technological might to halt this unjust campaign. Will two wars on Iran within nine months (June 2025 and March 2026) prompt China to step out of its traditional policy of restraint, anchored in peaceful conflict resolution, avoidance of confrontation and non-interference? Or are Russia and China, two of the five UN Security Council members, waiting to intervene before the world plunges into perpetual uncertainty?"
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596193/chinas-moment-for-action
Energy
Moazzam Husain, “Energy vision,” Dawn, 07 March 2026
"Imagine if all our energy was domestic. And cheap. Some days ago, I had written that even as our economy was growing, electricity demand from the grid was shrinking. Not only is this paradox real, there is an even more fundamental trend at work: solar energy is quietly replacing hydrocarbons as the world’s primary source of energy. A shift that has only just begun. This is a structural transition that will go all the way. Solar power will become the baseline and the cheapest source of energy. Period."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1979352/energy-vision
Pak-Afg war
Editorial, “Diplomatic option,” Dawn, 07 March 2026
"With Operation Ghazab lil Haq underway for over a week now, Pakistan has demonstrated that it can take firm action against unprovoked attacks by the Afghan Taliban as well as the support bases of TTP terrorists on Afghan soil. The kinetic action has brought down terrorist attacks in the country, which were occurring with alarming regularity before Pakistan confronted the cross-border threat. Now, with deterrence established, policymakers in Islamabad should consider how the battlefield successes can transition to a diplomatic solution to this long-standing problem. In this regard, a senior security official briefing KP-based journalists has said that the regime in Kabul was well aware of Pakistan’s demands — stopping cross-border terrorism by the TTP and other violent actors — and what was needed were “verifiable steps” to make any ceasefire work."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1979356/diplomatic-option
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