Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 and its implications on cross-border terrorism and border security for relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Introduction:The Taliban play a significant role in the changing dynamics of global and regional politics. From August 2021 till date, the focal point of Taliban politics and international relations lies on counter-terrorism efforts and border security, mainly with its Muslim neighbour Pakistan. Both countries share a comprehensive history that has registered ups and downs. The historically porous and tumultuous Afghanistan-Pakistan border, characterised by its rugged terrain and tribal regions with limited state control, has long been a hotbed for militant activities and cross-border insurgencies.This paper will highlight the challenges and opportunities opened by the Taliban takeover in border security and counterterrorism efforts. Historically speaking, the 2,670-kilometer border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been a hotbed of political insurgencies, with terrorists and pressure groups exploiting both governments amid the rugged and uncontrollable landscape. In recent times, the Pakistani government and the Afghani Taliban government have been in a salt talk over the alleged terrorist attacks that take place between both sides.A recent attack that took place on Chinese nationals in Pakistan was a significant example of the implications of terrorism efforts in border areas. This attack affected Pakistan-Afghanistan relations due to Pakistans alleged blame that Afghanistan is a haven for terrorist organisations like Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP,) which own a common goal of hampering down relations between Pakistan and China (1)