Pakistan strikes Afghanistan — why Uzbekistan and its neighbors stayed silent
On 1 October Pakistan struck Kunar and Helmand provinces in Afghanistan. China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan did not back Islamabad — Tashkent prioritizes its border and the Trans-Afghan railway.
On 1 October 2026 (overnight Wednesday-to-Thursday), Pakistan carried out air strikes on Afghanistan's eastern Kunar (Shultan and Chugam districts) and southern Helmand (Garmser) provinces. Islamabad named the operation 'Ghazab-Lil-Haq,' saying it targeted camps of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch fighters. It was the third round of strikes since mid-September.
Casualty figures are contested: Pakistan's Information Ministry claimed 22 'terrorists' killed and acknowledged no civilian deaths; Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said 9 civilians were killed, 11 wounded and 3 homes destroyed. The UN mission (UNAMA) reported roughly 10 civilians killed, mostly children. UNAMA says cross-border violence has caused over 1,100 civilian casualties since the start of 2026.
Why the neighbors did not back it
The 'Moscow Format' meeting on 5 October ended without a joint statement — Afghanistan and Pakistan could not agree on terrorism language. China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan declined to force a unified counterterrorism text, in effect not backing Islamabad. Russian envoy Zamir Kabulov said: 'In drafting the final joint statement, we encountered the problem of contradictions between our Afghan and Pakistani colleagues.'
Uzbekistan's position
According to The Diplomat's analysis, Uzbekistan shares only a 144 km border with Afghanistan, and the militant groups that concern Tashkent have shown limited cross-border strike capacity — so the threat is assessed as small and containable.
Uzbekistan also prioritizes the $4.8 billion Trans-Afghan (UAP) railway — the route through Termez to Mazar-i-Sharif and on through the Khyber Pass to Pakistani ports. A 'trade over turmoil' interest pushes Tashkent to stay neutral and keep relations with Kabul smooth.
