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Pakistan-Afghanistan War Update
China steps in to ease tensions as border clashes escalate
Pakistan reports 583 Afghan Taliban fighters killed as hostilities near two-week mark
On 08 March, The Express Tribune reported that cross-border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan continued as hostilities between the two neighbours entered the eleventh day. As the fighting continues to strain ties between the two countries, China stepped in to diplomatically ease tensions between the warring nations. According to a statement issued by the Afghan foreign ministry, China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, was in Kabul on Sunday to hold talks with the Taliban government to discuss bilateral cooperation as well as the concerning security situation in the region. The Chinese envoy emphasised Beijing’s desire to see Pakistan and Afghanistan diffuse their tensions through dialogue and prevent further escalation to ensure regional stability and security.
During his meeting with the Chinese envoy, Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, described Pakistan’s actions as “aggression” against Afghan territory and said Kabul has the right to respond. He also reiterated that his country prioritises diplomacy over armed hostilities. Additionally, Yue said that China was in regular contact with Islamabad and Kabul and was actively helping reduce tensions between the two sides.
Meanwhile, Federal Education Minister and Convener of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, said that Pakistan did not start a war against Afghanistan or its people, but was rather fighting against “enemies of Afghanistan” and “agents of India”. He blamed both countries for destabilising the security situation along Pakistan’s borders. This comes as Information Minister Attaullah Tarar reported on Sunday that 583 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed during the ongoing “Operation Ghazab lil-Haq”. He also added that 795 additional fighters had been injured, 242 checkposts destroyed, and 38 checkposts captured, while 64 locations across Afghanistan had been targeted by airstrikes. The United Nations, a few days back, said that 56 Afghan civilians had been killed during the operation, adding that 115,000 Afghans and 3000 Pakistanis had been displaced by the hostilities. (“583 Afghan Taliban killed as Pakistan continues strikes under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq,” The Express Tribune, 08 March 2026; “China steps in to defuse Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions,” The Express Tribune, 08 March 2026; “Pakistan not at war with Afghan people, but the agents of India: MQM-P,” The Express Tribune, 09 March 2026)
In Brief
ECONOMY
Arrival of petroleum shipments eases pressure on reserves
On 9 March, Dawn reported Pakistan is set to receive three petroleum shipments, as per information provided by the Petroleum Minister during a briefing, providing relief to a country experiencing fuel shortages. He also stated that efforts are underway to ensure alternate fuel supply routes other than the Strait of Hormuz, and in the backdrop of the conflict, Pakistan’s monthly oil import bill could increase to USD 600 million. Amid fuel shortage concerns, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the finance and petroleum ministers to work with provincial governments on a strategy to conserve and ensure an uninterrupted supply of petroleum products. In the coming days, LNG supply disruptions are also anticipated due to Qatar declaring force majeure. (“Three petrol shipments expected on Monday: petroleum minister,” Dawn, 9 March 2026)
PNSC stresses need for strategic utilisation of Gwadar Port amid Gulf crisis
On 9 March, Dawn reported that as regional shipping routes face disruptions due to regional tensions in West Asia, stakeholders urged the Pakistan government to take advantage of Gwadar Port for its strategic location and focus on improving competitiveness. In a meeting, officers from Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) emphasised that Gwadar Port should be actively utilised and marketed to international shipping lines. They also urged Shipping agents to engage with major carriers, particularly COSCO Shipping Lines, to encourage the routing of transhipment and transit cargo through Gwadar. (“Govt urged to take advantage of Gwadar Port amid Iran war,” Dawn, 9 March 2026)
Austerity plan announcement expected today amid fuel crisis
On 9 March, Dawn reported that an austerity plan announcement is expected today by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in view of the global fuel crisis, triggered by rising regional escalations and subsequent attacks on oil-producing Gulf states. In a meeting, PM Shehbaz stressed the need for the sensible use of petroleum products during the ongoing crisis. Also, as the concern rises that crude prices could rise to USD 120 a barrel if the conflict escalates further, the PM stressed that the burden of austerity should be borne judiciously by all segments of society. (“PM to unveil austerity plan today to cope with war fallout,” Dawn, 9 March 2026)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
Police detain Aurat March activists ahead of Women’s Day rally in Islamabad
On 08 March, Dawn reported that Islamabad police detained dozens of women’s rights activists, including members of the Aurat March, ahead of an International Women’s Day rally in the federal capital. Police sources said participants gathered near Super Market in Sector F-6 and planned to reach the National Press Club, where a heavy police presence arrested marchers and shifted them to the Women’s Police Station. Authorities confirmed 44 detentions, including 19 women and 25 men, citing the imposition of Section 144 and the denial of a no-objection certificate for the event. Prominent activist Dr Farzana Bari and Tahira Abdullah were among those held. Aurat March Islamabad condemned the action, stating: “We strongly condemn the arrests of participants who were peacefully exercising their right to protest.” (“Dozens of Aurat March activists, participants detained by police in Islamabad ahead of International Women’s Day rally,” Dawn, 08 March 2026)
KP CM Afridi opposes fuel price hikes amid Middle East tensions
On 08 March, Dawn reported that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said rising tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel should not be used to justify increasing petroleum prices and placing further financial strain on citizens. He made the remarks during a meeting with Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik to review possible fuel supply disruptions linked to the Middle East situation. In an official statement, Afridi urged governments to cut luxury and non-essential spending and redirect resources toward relief and targeted subsidies. “The provincial government will not endorse any proposal that could further burden people already facing inflation and rising living costs,” he said, reaffirming KP’s support for public relief measures. (“KP CM Afridi rejects increase in fuel prices as unjustified,” Dawn, 08 March 2026)
SECURITY
Child killed, four injured in suspected cross-border shelling in North Waziristan
On 08 March, Dawn reported that a child was killed and four others injured after a mortar shell allegedly fired from the Afghan side landed in a residential area during cross-border firing near the Pak-Afghan border in North Waziristan. The incident occurred around 7:30 pm amid heavy exchanges in the Ghulam Khan sector. Officials said the shell struck Golakhel village and exploded in a residential locality, killing a minor on the spot and wounding four people. Residents transported the injured to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Miranshah, where emergency treatment continued, and several victims were reported critical. Local administrators visited on official directives, ordering full medical support and placing the emergency department on high alert. The Ghulam Khan border crossing remains closed due to security conditions. (“Child killed, four injured after mortar shell allegedly fired from Afghanistan lands in North Waziristan neighbourhood,” Dawn, 08 March 2026)
Civilian killed, policeman injured in attack on patrol in Lakki Marwat
On 08 March, Dawn reported that a civilian was killed and a police constable injured when armed men on motorcycles opened fire on a police patrol in Serai Naurang town of Lakki Marwat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Officials said a gun battle erupted between police and the assailants following the attack. The deceased civilian and the injured constable were shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Serai Naurang for medical treatment. The incident comes amid a worsening security situation in the district, which has seen repeated militant attacks on police and security forces. Authorities noted a broader surge in violence across Lakki Marwat and adjoining areas, with patrols, checkpoints and police stations frequently targeted in recent years. (“Civilian killed, cop injured as armed men open fire on police in KP’s Lakki Marwat,” Dawn, 08 March 2026)
Security forces kill 13 Militants in multiple operations across KP
On 08 March, Dawn reported that security forces killed 13 militants in five intelligence-based operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between 06 and 07 March, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The statement said five militants were killed in Bajaur during an exchange of fire, while three were neutralised in separate encounters in Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan. In two additional engagements in Khyber and South Waziristan, troops killed five more militants. Weapons and ammunition were recovered, and sanitisation operations were underway to clear the areas. The military said the operations were part of an ongoing counterterrorism campaign amid heightened security challenges, reaffirming the forces’ commitment to border security and national stability. (“13 terrorists killed in 5 intelligence-driven operations across KP: ISPR,” Dawn, 08 March 2026)
Editorials/Opinions
Middle East crisis
Shahid Javed Burki, “Iran and the US,” The Express Tribune, 09 March 2026
"The long-enduring regime in Tehran, headed by Shiite clerics, ran into serious internal troubles when people who were opposed to it came out on the streets of the capital. In December 2025, a large number of people began protesting against the policies being pursued by those who held the reins of government for almost half a century."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596504/iran-and-the-us
Fuel shortage in Pakistan
Fahd Husain, “Can a hard state deliver soft governance?” The Express Tribune, 08 March 2026
"We have two wars on two borders, a crippling petrol price hike, enhanced electricity charges, fresh solar burden on consumers, and repeated warnings that things will get worse before they get better. If they ever do."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596350/can-a-hard-state-deliver-soft-governance
Editorial, “No to power subsidies,” The Express Tribune, 09 March 2026
"There is a particular fiscal absurdity that Pakistan has perfected over decades — allocating ever-larger sums of public money to compensate for failures that those very sums were meant to prevent. The latest chapter unfolds between Islamabad's Power Division and the IMF. The government has proposed nearly Rs990 billion in power subsidies for the fiscal year 2026-27. The Fund has flatly rejected it. Caught between an unforgiving lender and a power sector that bleeds without pause, the government finds itself, once again, between a rock and a hard place."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596501/no-to-power-subsidies
Editorial, “Petrol shock,” Dawn, 09 March 2026
"Pakistanis have felt the first direct economic tremor of the escalating confrontation between the US-Israel combine and Iran where it hurts the most: at the petrol pump. The government’s decision to increase petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 per litre reflects the immediate spill-over of high global oil prices triggered by the conflict. It is the single sharpest petroleum price adjustment in recent memory — alongside even steeper increases in kerosene and light diesel oil. The increase is extraordinary by any standard. Yet it also reflects how vulnerable Pakistan’s economy remains to geopolitical shocks."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1979709/petrol-shock
Society
Editorial, “Women’s Day,” Dawn, 08 March 2026
"It is a simple truth: societies progress when women are able to shape them. Yet the struggle for equality has never been linear, and the distance between aspiration and reality remains vast. In Pakistan, as elsewhere, International Women’s Day is, therefore, both a moment of recognition and a reminder of the work unfinished. Pakistan has enacted several laws designed to protect women and promote gender equality: legislation addressing workplace harassment, steps towards raising the legal age of marriage, legal frameworks against domestic violence, etc. These measures reflect the tireless efforts of activists, civil society and policymakers. Yet laws alone cannot transform society; they must be enforced."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1979708/womens-day
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