Afghanistan and Pakistan have slid into a perilous new stage of open conflict, as intense cross‑border fighting, mounting civilian casualties, and a surge in militant attacks inside Pakistan converge into what officials on both sides now describe as a de facto war. Over the past 72 hours, heavy shelling, airstrikes, and ground clashes along the frontier have deepened fears of a wider regional crisis and further destabilization of Afghanistan’s already fragile humanitarian landscape. Frontline Under Fire In recent days, residents along the Durand Line have reported almost continuous explosions and exchanges of heavy weapons fire, particularly across sections of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adjacent Afghan provinces. Afghan sources claim Taliban border forces have overrun or seized several Pakistani outposts in contested sectors, presenting the gains as proof that Kabul will not tolerate attacks on its soil. Pakistani officials, however, insist their troops have held firm, asserting that they ...
Understanding the Syrian Interim Government's Limited Response to the US–Israel–Iran War Dr Nikolaos Stelgias The escalation of hostilities between the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other, beginning in late February 2026, has fundamentally redrawn the security architecture of the Middle East. Yet one actor whose response has been conspicuously restrained is Syria — or, more precisely, the interim government in Damascus led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa (widely known by his earlier nom de guerre). In a conflict that has directly implicated Iran and its regional proxies, and that has seen missile and drone exchanges over Arab airspace, Syria's public posture has been limited to a handful of carefully worded diplomatic statements. This restraint is not accidental. It reflects a deliberate strategic calculus shaped by domestic fragility, geopolitical repositioning, and the imperatives of post-Assad state-building. This analysis examines the rea...