The Intelligence from The Economist (Another) all-out war: Afghanistan and Pakistan
40 snips
Mar 24, 2026 
Tom Sasse, South Asia bureau chief with field expertise on Afghanistan and Pakistan; Joshua Roberts, capital markets correspondent explaining oil and inflation links; Caitlin Talbot, digital culture correspondent tracking listening-party trends. They discuss rising cross-border violence and its roots. They cover how oil shocks can push inflation and influence central-bank choices. They explore why listening parties now drive music launches.
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TTP Size And Role In Rising Pakistan Attacks
- The TTP is an independent militant group founded in 2007 with an estimated 7,000–10,000 fighters, mostly in Pakistan's northwest.
- Pakistan blames the Afghan Taliban for sheltering TTP fighters after a string of attacks including a major Islamabad suicide bombing.
Pakistan's Air Campaign And Temporary Ramadan Pause
- Pakistan's response has been a heavy bombing campaign targeting Kabul, Kandahar and alleged military sites, claiming to have killed over 270 Taliban members.
- Ground troops have attacked Afghan border posts and operations paused temporarily for the end of Ramadan.
Taliban's Limited Military Options And Refugee Surge
- Afghanistan lacks an effective air force and mainly responded with border raids and drone strikes, limiting its conventional retaliation options.
- The conflict is already producing displacement; Pakistan has expelled over 2 million Afghan refugees since 2023, with 80,000 crossing in January alone.