Pakistan's Strategic Delusion Collapses: Durand Line Conflict Escalates

• The Durand Line conflict reveals the unraveling of Pakistan's decades-old security doctrine, built on manipulation and selective interpretation of terrorism.
• Pakistan's long-held belief in shaping Afghanistan from behind the curtain has dissolved, as militant networks once considered assets now show independence.
• Air strikes in Afghanistan, intended to display resolve, instead highlight strategic exhaustion and the failure of Pakistan's counterinsurgency strategy.
• The doctrine of 'strategic depth' based on informal networks and asymmetric tools has backfired, as militant ecosystems pursue their own priorities.
• Economic fragility and reputational erosion sharpen Pakistan's dilemma, demanding consistent policy and credible border management beyond episodic retaliation.