Pakistan, March 24 -- On Sunday, Pakistan's armed forces intercepted 16 militants attempting to infiltrate from Afghanistan into North Waziristan-a necessary act of defence that lays bare an inconvenient truth: our nation remains shackled to terrorism nurtured beyond the Durand Line.

Since 2001, over 80,000 lives lost and $150 billion drained by violence demands more than hollow debates over "civilian impact." They demand accountability.

The Taliban's return to Kabul was met with cautious pragmatism: advocacy for global engagement, humanitarian aid, and dialogue. Yet four years on, Afghanistan's ungoverned spaces remain a breeding ground for the TTP, whose attacks on Pakistani soil surged by a staggering 73 per cent last year. Islamabad...