Afghanistan War, Iran Conflict Push Pakistan Into Two Front Security Challenge Amid Regional Tension

First the Taliban, now Iran. Pakistan’s western flank is under mounting stress as clashes with Kabul coincide with a fast expanding confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the United States. Islamabad already faces rising militant violence linked to cross border tensions. Now, instability in Iran’s Sistan-Balochistan province could create fresh spillover risks into Pakistan’s own restive Balochistan region, where key CPEC projects and Gwadar port are located. Security forces may be forced to divide attention across multiple theatres, raising fears of strategic overstretch. The economic dimension compounds the threat. Any escalation near the Strait of Hormuz could disrupt oil supplies and push global crude prices higher, directly impacting Pakistan’s inflation, currency stability and fiscal planning. The convergence of military pressure and economic vulnerability creates a volatile equation with significant regional implications.