Afghanistan–Pakistan clashes (2024–present)
Militant attacks on CPEC and Pakistani military bases accommodating US aircraft pose a threat to Chinese and American interests in Pakistan.Their violent actions, including numerous suicide bombings, have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of military personnel, police, and civilians.[19] TTP has been responsible for some of the most devastating attacks in Pakistan, targeting churches, schools, and notable figures like Malala Yousafzai, who survived an assassination attempt in 2012 for advocating women's education against Taliban restrictions.[32] On 22 March, a suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into a military convoy passing through Dera Ismail Khan; this attack resulted in the death of two Pakistani soldiers and wounding of 15 others.[34] On 25 March, Balochistan Liberation Army's Majeed Brigade attacked Pakistan's second largest Naval Base PNS Siddique in Turbat which houses American as well as Chinese aircraft.[36] On 26 March 2024, in Shangla District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, a suicide bomber attacked a bus transporting five Chinese laborers and their Pakistani driver on their way to the Dasu Dam, killing all of them."[60] On 26 December 2024, Afghan and Pakistani forces exchanged fire at the border between Dand Aw Patan and Kurram, with no casualties or damage initially reported by either side.[61] On 27 December, Afghan and Pakistani border troops exchanged fire for several hours in Dand Aw Patan.[61] On 28 December, fighting broke out again as the Afghan Defence Ministry claimed to have attacked "several points" across the border with Pakistan.[67] In the early hours of 29 December, militants launched a third infiltration attempt targeting a border military post in South Waziristan.The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan claimed responsibility, and said that a Taliban commander was killed and three military vehicles destroyed.[69] The force included multiple battalion level units armed with Soviet-era Tanks and Humvees left following the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.[71][72] On 1 January 2025, an MPA of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, Anwar Zaib Khan, claimed that 400 militants from Afghanistan had captured fifteen border posts along the border in Bajaur District, raising the flags of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and began fortifying their newly acquired positions and that the local residents began fleeing the area expecting an imminent large scale operation by the Pakistan Armed Forces.[82] On 6 January 2025, an RPG fired by Afghan Taliban struck a football field in North Waziristan during an ongoing match, three players were wounded.[76][83] On 7 January 2025, 3 Pakistani soldiers and 19 insurgents were killed in raids conducted by the military in northwest areas bordering Afghanistan.[76] On 9 January 2025, Pakistani attack helicopters struck Bajaur district in the areas where the border posts had been occupied by the TTP.