Bangladesh, Oct. 16 -- Earlier this month, Taliban-ruled Afghanistan formally accused Pakistan of carrying out airstrikes in Kabul and in eastern provinces: the Pakistani authorities in Islamabad have neither confirmed nor denied such claims. Amid the confusion, a blast near Kabuls Abdul Haq Square, initially described as an accident, was later attributed by the Afghan Defense Ministry to Pakistani jets violating Afghan airspace.

What followed has been a sharp enough escalation. The Afghan Taliban launched retaliatory attacks on Pakistani military posts straddling the border in multiple provinces. Fierce clashes erupted, reportedly killing dozens of soldiers and civilians on both sides. Border crossings have been closed, and heavy shelli...