As Pakistan, Afghanistan attack each other, what’s next for neighbours?

Pakistan has accused the interim Afghan government of providing shelter to armed groups, which it says launch cross-border attacks on Pakistani territory [Anjum Naveed/AP Photo]

Islamabad, Pakistan – A sharp escalation in hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan over the past week has resulted in the death of at least one member of the Pakistani security forces and dozens of civilians in Afghanistan.

This latest round of cross-border fighting stems from what Pakistan insisted was its response to regular attacks by the armed group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad said has found sanctuary across the border in Afghanistan. The most recent TTP attack, on December 21, led to the deaths of at least 16 Pakistani soldiers.