Report Says Pakistan Uses Air Power After Losing Influence in Kabul

The new analysis points to a strategic shift in Pakistan's approach toward Afghanistan. Unable to wield political influence over Kabul's authorities, Islamabad appears to rely increasingly on air power as a tool to press its agenda. The report states that this change underscores the erosion of the "strategic depth" doctrine that once guided Pakistan's regional policy. By conducting strikes that it claims target TTP elements, Pakistan hopes to destabilise the very victory the Taliban achieved, even as the Taliban government protests the civilian toll. The document records that September's air operations were part of a broader pattern of attacks that have repeatedly caused Afghan civilian deaths, both along the border and within the capital.