Open War at the Durand Line: Can Pakistan’s Escalation Compel a Taliban Recalculation?

Pakistan has declared "open war" on Afghanistan, escalating its strategy by striking Taliban military installations directly in major cities like Kabul and Kandahar. This dramatic shift from targeting non-state militants to confronting the Taliban regime itself follows the failure of indirect pressures to curb support for anti-Pakistan groups. The Taliban may be miscalculating their ability to withstand this assault, mistakenly applying lessons from fighting distant powers to a conflict with a nuclear-armed neighbor. While Pakistan's aggression could rally the Taliban, a strong domestic consensus behind the military action may provide the leverage needed to compel a strategic change from its adversary.