The politics of exhaustion: Why Pakistan must pivot from a "forever war" to domestic stabilization

Analyst Jawad Khalid discusses how decades of conflict and economic crisis have led to a state of collective exhaustion and fractured social fabric in Pakistan.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 7:19 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Jawad Khalid

A cycle of strategic ambiguity

The latest escalation along the Durand Line marks the continuation of a conflict that has plagued the region for over two decades. Historically, Pakistan’s security apparatus operated on a confusing binary of "good" versus "bad" Taliban—viewing those fighting NATO forces as strategic assets while labeling those targeting the Pakistani state, specifically the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), as enemies. This ambiguity proved catastrophic, leading to a deadliest phase of domestic terrorism characterized by routine suicide bombings and mass internal displacement.

The evaporated optimism of 2021

When the United States withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, Islamabad initially welcomed the return of the Taliban, hoping for a friendly neighbor. However, that optimism has since evaporated. Relations have soured as Pakistan accuses Kabul of providing safe havens to TTP militants, a claim supported by United Nations reports but denied by the Taliban. This breakdown has led to a dangerous "managed escalation" that has now transitioned into open air strikes and retaliatory border incursions, leaving the Pashtun communities on both sides to bear the heaviest human cost.

The "Politics of Exhaustion"

Beyond the kinetic warfare, Pakistan is grappling with what Khalid terms the "politics of exhaustion." This condition occurs when a society, subjected to prolonged conflict and contradictory state narratives, loses its collective will and hope. The crisis is compounded by severe economic distress, with record inflation and unemployment pushing large segments of the population into apathy. The controversial 2024 election further eroded faith in state institutions, leading many to believe that their political choices no longer hold value.