Is Taliban's growing presence in Pakistan, a ticking time bomb? By Avani Devi

Pakistan, long a master of playing with fire, now finds itself increasingly scorched by the very flames it once fanned. The Taliban, nurtured for decades as a strategic asset in Afghanistan, has begun to sink its teeth into Pakistan’s own territory, challenging its authority, exposing its contradictions, and testing its patience. The very force Islamabad once shielded is now eroding its internal stability, raising the question: how long can Pakistan tolerate this creeping insurgency before the monster turns fully on its creator?

The problem is not new, but it has intensified in the wake of the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. With the withdrawal of American forces and the collapse of the Afghan government, the Taliban secured a home base, free from the airstrikes, drone campaigns, and international scrutiny that once kept them in check. Emboldened and well-resourced, many militants have turned their eyes eastward, seeking to expand their influence inside Pakistan itself.

For years, Pakistan’s military and intelligence services played a double game—offering tacit (and at times overt) support to elements of the Taliban while also claiming to be America’s key partner in counterterrorism. The result? A country that now finds itself grappling with the unintended consequences of its own strategic calculus. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Pakistani Taliban, has escalated its attacks, targeting security forces, police stations, and government officials with increasing boldness. In the tribal regions and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, their influence is no longer an underground movement, it is a reality on the ground.

Islamabad’s response? A cocktail of denial, diplomacy, and half-hearted crackdowns that do little to change the trajectory of this growing crisis. Officials oscillate between blaming Afghanistan’s Taliban government for harboring Pakistani insurgents and insisting that diplomatic dialogue can contain the problem. But dialogue with whom? The Taliban regime in Kabul has little incentive to curb the ambitions of their ideological brethren in Pakistan. If anything, their victories have provided inspiration and operational confidence to groups like the TTP. The idea that the Taliban would act as a responsible neighbor, rather than a revolutionary force committed to its extremist worldview, is a fantasy Pakistan’s leadership is only now beginning to acknowledge.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani state’s tolerance for Taliban influence is not just about security, it is also about ideology. For decades, Pakistan’s establishment has flirted with radical Islamic movements, using them as tools against India, Afghanistan, and even internal dissent. But as history has repeatedly demonstrated, extremism is not a lever one can control indefinitely. What begins as a ‘strategic asset’ inevitably morphs into an uncontrollable force, demanding greater influence and, ultimately, power. If left unchecked, the Taliban’s growing reach within Pakistan could push the country towards a dangerous tipping point, one where the state is no longer merely tolerating extremism but being consumed by it.

And let’s not forget the geopolitical implications. As Taliban militants grow bolder inside Pakistan, they are not just a domestic threat but a regional one. China, Pakistan’s most significant economic partner, has already expressed concerns about the security situation, especially in areas tied to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The last thing Beijing wants is its multi-billion-dollar investments jeopardized by an unchecked insurgency. India, too, is watching closely, knowing that instability in Pakistan could spill over into Kashmir and beyond. And for the United States? Pakistan’s deteriorating control over Taliban elements raises alarms about the resurgence of international terror networks in the region.

So, what happens next? Will Pakistan continue its policy of appeasement and quiet negotiation, hoping to buy more time before the inevitable explosion? Or will it take decisive action to dismantle the very networks it once empowered, even at the cost of internal upheaval? The window for choice is shrinking, and the Taliban is not known for waiting patiently.

The fire Pakistan helped ignite is now creeping towards its own doorstep. Whether Islamabad acknowledges it or not, the countdown to reckoning has already begun.