The fourth war of the year: Pakistan begins “cleansing” operation in Afghanistan – Weekend

As the weekend approached, another war in 2025 seemed on the brink of eruption. The “baton” has now been passed to the Taliban and Pakistan.

In Gaza, the first signs of peace are emerging — though most of what can be seen are ruins. In Egypt, a deadly incident occurred amid ongoing negotiations over Gaza. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump missed out on the Nobel Prize, raising concerns that this could influence a possible U.S. intervention in Venezuela.

Kazakhstan is preparing to file a complaint against Russia, claiming Moscow has failed to fulfill its obligations to all partners. QALAMPIR.UZ’s Weekend program reviews the key global developments from the past week.

Another new war

On the evening of October 9, explosions rocked Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, as well as the eastern province of Paktika. The next day, the Taliban’s Ministry of Defense blamed Pakistan for the attacks. Meanwhile, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who had been holding talks with Indian officials — Pakistan’s primary rival — warned Islamabad “not to test the patience of Afghans or play games with them.” Reports soon followed that the airstrikes targeted facilities of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group inside Afghanistan.

Pakistan has long urged the Taliban to stop harboring TTP fighters, as these militants have killed hundreds of Pakistani security personnel since 2021. In recent months, TTP attacks in Pakistan’s northwestern regions have increased, prompting the government to declare that its patience had run out. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated just a day earlier, “Our patience is over,” adding that Pakistan reserves the right to defend itself, including through operations inside Afghan territory.

By the evening of October 11, fierce armed clashes had erupted along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border. Afghanistan’s Tolo News reported airstrikes in Helmand, Khost, and Nangarhar provinces. The fighting has spread along major portions of the 2,600-kilometer border, known as the Durand Line. According to Afghan sources, clashes have taken place across seven border provinces — Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktia, Khost, Paktika, Helmand, and Kandahar. Taliban forces reportedly launched counterattacks into several Pakistani regions, including Khyber and Balochistan, where border posts in Barmcha district came under assault. The fighting has since spread from north to south.

Casualties continue to rise. According to Tolo News, at least five Pakistani soldiers have been killed and two wounded. Taliban officials, however, claim the real number of Pakistani fatalities is closer to 60. Several Pakistani military vehicles and installations have allegedly been destroyed. The Taliban also claim to have seized several Pakistani border posts. Pakistan, for its part, denies suffering major losses, saying it successfully repelled the attacks. The state television channel, citing military officials, reported that Pakistani forces had taken control of 19 Afghan border posts after returning fire. Islamabad said Taliban troops had occupied these posts, with some killed and others retreating. Pakistani authorities further stated that several Afghan outposts were destroyed and that “significant losses” were inflicted on attacking forces.

Islamabad has not admitted to carrying out the initial October 9 airstrike on Kabul that triggered the conflict. Instead, Pakistan continues to warn the Taliban, often invoking India’s fate as a cautionary example. Military spokesman Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry told reporters that Afghanistan had become a base for terrorism against Pakistan, emphasizing that the army has the right to take necessary measures to protect civilians. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry also called on Kabul to honor its commitments and stop sheltering TTP fighters, warning that otherwise, Islamabad will continue to take decisive defensive actions. Similar demands have been voiced by many countries, including Uzbekistan. However, after four years under Taliban rule, Afghanistan has arguably continued to serve as a “womb” for terrorist groups — and most blame lies with the Taliban leadership.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged both Afghanistan and Pakistan to immediately cease fire, stressing that stability between the two nations serves the interests of the entire region. Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei announced that Tehran is ready to mediate between the two sides. Many observers are also watching Saudi Arabia’s reaction closely. Recently, Riyadh and Islamabad signed a mutual defense pact, pledging to protect each other against external aggression. However, so far, there are no signs of military or financial assistance from the kingdom. Instead, Saudi Arabia has expressed “deep concern” over the developments, calling on both sides “to exercise restraint, avoid escalation, return to dialogue and wisdom,” and reaffirmed its support for any peaceful initiatives. It also stressed its commitment to the “security and prosperity of the brotherly peoples of Pakistan and Afghanistan.” Qatar and several other states have voiced similar positions.

Calm amid the ruins – Gaza

After Israeli forces withdrew from nearly half of the Gaza Strip, displaced Palestinians have begun returning to what remains of their destroyed homes. Within a short time, nearly 300,000 people have been displaced again within the enclave. Today, finding a livable area in Gaza is nearly impossible — but for now, the main thing is that the region is quiet. Although gunfire did not cease immediately after the truce took effect, a fragile calm has gradually settled over the ruins. Survivors of the two-year genocide — women, children, the elderly, and family heads — are beginning to regain a glimmer of hope. Yet the laughter of small girls and boys riding donkey carts, the main mode of transport in the devastated strip, may not last long. This remains one of the most painful realities of the moment.

Full implementation of Trump’s 21-point peace plan will take more time. In recent days, the initial ceasefire clauses have begun to take effect in Egypt, despite minor disagreements. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and others have already arrived in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump himself is expected to visit soon. He is scheduled to address Israel’s Knesset before heading to Egypt, where, on October 13, world leaders — including Macron, Scholz, Erdoğan, and others — will gather to finalize the main components of the Gaza peace plan. The U.S. president will also attend, with the fate of the enclave expected to be determined that day. Hamas has announced its readiness to release Israeli hostages. On the surface, everything seems nearly resolved — but many doubt Israel will fully adhere to the agreement. Iranian officials have openly voiced this skepticism.

Once a lasting ceasefire is achieved, several predictions and expectations exist regarding Gaza’s future. According to reports, if Trump’s plan proceeds as outlined, Hamas will relinquish control of the Strip. Israel has stated that it will completely destroy Hamas’s tunnel network. Governance in Gaza would then shift to an international administration, as detailed in Trump’s plan — a special council, possibly headed by Tony Blair or another appointed figure, would govern the territory for five years, until a recognized Palestinian state is established. The final phase of Trump’s peace plan envisions the creation of an independent State of Palestine.

Nobel says “no” to Trump

Donald Trump has been left empty-handed in his quest for the Nobel Peace Prize, an award he had been campaigning for since the start of the year. The former U.S. president fought so hard for this small piece of metal that the first stage of the Gaza ceasefire was arranged just a day before the prize announcement. Trump repeatedly claimed he deserved the award more than anyone else, boasting that he had “ended eight wars.”

However, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize went instead to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, known as the main rival of Nicolás Maduro’s regime. The Nobel Committee stated that she received the award for her significant contribution to Venezuela’s peaceful and democratic transition from dictatorship. Yet, Venezuela remains under authoritarian rule, and Machado has not managed to topple Maduro. Given the ongoing repression and the lack of free elections in the country, the decision has sparked mixed reactions.

It is, therefore, reasonable to ask whether the work of opposition figures alone truly embodies the spirit of the Peace Prize. After all, the link between peace and politics can be interpreted in many ways. The relevance of Machado’s activism to the essence of peace remains questionable, and in this sense, the negative reaction from Trump’s administration carried some weight. Many observers argue that the Nobel Committee prioritized politics over peace this year.

Even Russian and Belarusian leaders, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, criticized the committee’s decision, claiming while in Tajikistan that only Trump was deserving of the prize this year.

On October 10, Trump and María Corina Machado spoke by phone. According to Trump, the Venezuelan politician dedicated the prize to him.

“The person who won the Nobel Prize called me today and said, ‘I accept this prize in your honor, because you truly deserved it.’ Very nice of her. I didn’t say, ‘Then give it to me,’ though I think she could have. I’ve supported her for a long time. Venezuela needs enormous help — it’s a real tragedy. And you could even say the award was for 2024, the year I was running in the election,” Trump said.

Interestingly, many officials from Trump’s own administration had previously supported Machado. Trump himself had praised her warmly on his social media pages in the past.

Kazakhstan files complaint against Russia

The Kazakh government has sent a formal complaint to the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) regarding the difficulties arising from border queues and changes to Russia’s migration laws. Astana argues that the current situation constitutes a barrier hindering foreign trade. The issue will be discussed at the EEC meeting on October 13, and later at the Kazakhstan–Russia Intergovernmental Commission meeting on November 7.

The main point of contention concerns Russia’s new rules for foreign citizens. Under the updated regulations, foreigners may stay in the country for no more than 90 days within a year without registration, regardless of how many times they enter or leave. Previously, this limit was 180 days.

The new rule also applies to international freight drivers, and the stay period is now shared between Russia and Belarus, effectively counting as a single zone.

Kazakhstan’s government reminded that its own laws are far more lenient: foreigners may stay up to 90 days within six months without registration, and this restriction does not apply to international freight and passenger drivers. Officials noted that these norms fully comply with international practice.

According to Member of Parliament Bolatbek Nazhmetdinuly, Russia’s new rules affect not only international carriers but also drivers operating within the Eurasian Economic Union. He said many drivers have already exceeded their permitted stay and are now forced to wait until the new year to return to work. Some who overstayed have been detained and warned to leave Russia.

The statement also noted that inspections aimed at combating “gray imports,” launched in September, have further complicated the situation at the border. Additional checks have prolonged the inspection time for freight vehicles. Border queues at the Kazakhstan–Russia crossing points have persisted since September, and while officials deny any serious problems, Kazakh media report that some trucks prefer to remain on Kazakh territory to avoid lengthy checks on the Russian side.