"Pakistan-Afghanistan Tensions Escalate: Airstrikes and Cross-Border Conflict"

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated following cross-border attacks, with Pakistan targeting hideouts of armed groups including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan. The Afghan Taliban swiftly condemned the attacks and retaliated by firing mortar shells on Pakistani military positions. The ongoing conflict is impacting public-to-public relations between the two countries, with Pakistan hoping to use its influence over the Afghan Taliban to contain the Pakistan Taliban. However, attacks by the Pakistan Taliban have increased, leading to a deadly year in Pakistan. The situation has the potential to strain the already fragile relationship between the two neighbors, with implications for trade, refugees, and public sentiment.