The Foreign Office has broken its silence tonight. Pakistan's air strikes inside Afghanistan, which killed dozens, are a 'dangerous escalation'. The death toll is still rising. Women and children are among the dead. Westminster is rattled.
It happened just after dawn. Pakistani jets crossed the border into Khost province. They hit three villages. The targets? Taliban hideouts, according to Islamabad. But locals say the dead are mostly civilians. The Taliban is furious. They threatened 'revenge'.
Downing Street's response came through a carefully worded statement. 'The UK condemns these strikes,' a spokesperson said. 'We urge the Taliban to show restraint and avoid retaliatory action.' It is a delicate dance. London has no embassy in Kabul. Not since the 2021 pullout. But they still have channels. Quiet ones.
This is a nightmare for the Foreign Office. They have been trying to stabilise the region. Quiet diplomacy. Backchannel talks. Now this. Pakistan is nominally an ally. They hold leverage over the Taliban. But these strikes undermine the UK's position. Hardliners in the Taliban will use this to justify more crackdowns.
The timing is brutal. Parliament is in recess. But expect urgent questions when MPs return. Labour will demand a full briefing. The Liberal Democrats will call for a UN resolution. The usual backbench noise. But behind the scenes, real fear. The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is a powder keg. If this spirals, it could draw in other powers. China, for instance. They have interests in the region.
One diplomat told me tonight: 'We are in a very dark room, and we don't know where the light switch is.' That sums it up. No easy answers. The UK has no troops on the ground. No leverage. Just words. And words might not be enough.
