Opinion | Pakistan in Crisis Stands isolated, divided & wounded

What was once described as a strong Islamic republic now resembles a nation on the edge, struggling to hold itself together while the world watches its slow descent into disorder.

Pakistan is once again witnessing a period of severe internal and external turmoil. Over the last few days, the country has faced military tensions with Afghanistan, violent protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and political agitation from religious parties like Tehreek-e-Labbaik. Together, these developments have painted a grim picture of a state sinking deeper into crisis, with its leadership appearing helpless before waves of instability.

The latest round of conflict began along the border with Afghanistan. Reports suggest that Pakistan carried out airstrikes inside Afghan territory, claiming to target hideouts of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. Islamabad accused Kabul of giving sanctuary to militants who regularly attack Pakistani security forces and border posts. Afghanistan strongly condemned the strikes, calling them violations of sovereignty, and launched retaliatory attacks against Pakistani border positions. Heavy exchanges of fire took place in the Kurram region and along key crossings such as Torkham and Chaman. Afghan officials claimed to have inflicted heavy losses on the Pakistani side, reportedly killing dozens of soldiers, while Pakistan admitted casualties but tried to downplay the numbers.

The clashes caused immense disruption. Major border points were shut down, halting trade and passenger movement. Markets on both sides of the border suffered, while residents faced food shortages and loss of livelihood. For Pakistan, the confrontation has come at a heavy price. It has further strained relations with Afghanistan, a country it once tried to control through influence over the Taliban regime. Now, instead of a friendly neighbour, Islamabad faces an assertive Kabul unwilling to tolerate interference. The damage has not only been military and economic but also diplomatic, as Pakistan’s regional image continues to decline.

While the western border burned, unrest spread inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Awami Action Committee has been leading massive demonstrations across the region, accusing Islamabad of exploiting local resources and denying basic rights to the people. The protesters have demanded fair electricity tariffs, subsidies for essential commodities, and the abolition of seats in the legislative assembly reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan. They argue that these seats distort democratic representation and allow Islamabad to control the local government from afar.

The protests have turned violent at several places. In Mirpur, Kotli, and Rawalakot, clashes between demonstrators and security forces have led to multiple deaths and injuries. Police personnel have also lost their lives during confrontations. The government’s reaction has been to impose curfews, block internet services, and deploy additional troops instead of addressing the core grievances. Everyday life in the region has come to a standstill, with shops closed and roads deserted. The people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, long treated as second-class citizens, are now openly defying Islamabad’s authority. Their frustration reflects decades of neglect and exploitation by Pakistani authorities who have used the territory for propaganda while ignoring the real needs of its residents.

At the same time, religious extremism is once again destabilising Pakistan’s major cities. The Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, known for its radical street power, has organised large-scale protests under the banner of the “Labbaik Ya Aqsa” Million March. The party claims to be expressing solidarity with Palestinians, but the demonstrations have quickly turned into an anti-government movement. The TLP has accused the authorities of being un-Islamic and corrupt. In Lahore and Rawalpindi, protesters clashed with police as security forces tried to stop their march towards Islamabad. The government responded by invoking Section 144, which bans public gatherings, and by shutting down mobile and internet services in several areas.

The TLP’s rise exposes the weakness of Pakistan’s political institutions. Instead of curbing extremism, successive governments have relied on such groups for short-term political gains, allowing them to grow uncontrollably. Now, when the same forces challenge the state, the government has little moral or administrative authority to deal with them. The streets of Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad have once again become battlegrounds between radical mobs and the police, creating fear among ordinary citizens who are already struggling with record inflation and unemployment.

These three crises—border conflict with Afghanistan, rebellion in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and religious unrest inside the country—together portray a Pakistan losing control on multiple fronts. Its foreign policy appears directionless, its economy is sinking, and its society is sharply divided along political, sectarian, and regional lines.

The confrontation with Afghanistan has isolated Pakistan in the region. Kabul’s leadership, once dependent on Islamabad, now accuses it of aggression and interference. Even China and other neighbours have remained silent, showing that Pakistan no longer enjoys the diplomatic leverage it once had. The border conflict has also disrupted trade routes vital for Pakistan’s economy, worsening an already fragile situation marked by rising fuel prices and a depreciating currency.

In Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the government faces a serious legitimacy crisis. The people of the region, tired of being used as tools in Pakistan’s rhetoric against India, are now demanding their own rights. The crackdown by security forces has only deepened resentment. Instead of dialogue and reform, the state has chosen force and suppression. The killing of civilians and police personnel has added a new layer of bitterness and widened the gap between the local population and the authorities.

The Tehreek-e-Labbaik protests further reveal the failure of Pakistan’s leadership to manage its internal contradictions. The same clerics who were once appeased are now challenging the state’s writ. The inability to maintain law and order in major cities, the recurring suspension of the internet, and the widespread arrests show a government that is reactive rather than decisive. Ordinary citizens, meanwhile, suffer from the fallout of these power struggles.

All of this is happening at a time when Pakistan’s economy is at its weakest. Inflation is at record highs, electricity prices have skyrocketed, and the cost of food and fuel has become unbearable for most families. International investors are hesitant, the International Monetary Fund’s conditions have further tightened economic space, and the public has lost faith in political promises. The once-repeated claim that Pakistan is on the path to stability now rings hollow.

Pakistan today presents the image of a state caught in its own contradictions. It attacks a neighbour to prove its strength but ends up suffering retaliation and humiliation. It suppresses protests in the territories it claims to represent, showing the world the hypocrisy of its policies. It allows religious extremists to grow, then panics when they challenge its authority. The government appears paralysed, reacting to crises rather than preventing them.

If Pakistan continues on this path, the damage will not remain limited to its borders. The instability could spill over into the region, affecting trade, security, and cooperation. The only way forward would be for the leadership to confront reality with honesty—to end adventurism abroad, to grant genuine rights to the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and to curb extremist politics within. However, given the current chaos, such reforms seem distant.

For now, Pakistan stands isolated, divided, and wounded. Its foreign adventures have backfired, its domestic control is slipping, and its people are losing hope. What was once described as a strong Islamic republic now resembles a nation on the edge, struggling to hold itself together while the world watches its slow descent into disorder.

Author can be reached on syedjahanzeeb2@gmail.com