Pakistan’s Catholic bishops back the army as border clashes with Afghanistan intensify, urging peace, unity, and dialogue amid deepening regional strain.
Newsroom (27/03/2026 Gaudium Press ) Catholic bishops in Pakistan have expressed support for the nation’s armed forces while simultaneously calling for dialogue and peace as weeks of cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan left dozens dead and raised fears of wider instability in the region.
Archbishop Joseph Arshad of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, in a March 23 message coinciding with Pakistan National Day, praised the army “for their sacrifices in defending the country’s borders,” saying the nation would always remember the bravery and dedication of its soldiers. “The country remains secure due to their unmatched sacrifices, allowing citizens to live in freedom,” he said.
The statement came amid a fragile Eid al-Fitr ceasefire that temporarily halted hostilities following intense fighting along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier. Tensions surged after Kabul accused Islamabad of striking a drug rehabilitation hospital in the Afghan capital earlier in the month, leaving patients dead and wounded.
Mounting Regional Strain
Pakistan declared “open war” with Afghanistan at the end of February after months of escalating clashes. Pakistani airstrikes targeted suspected militant sanctuaries, while the Taliban reportedly retaliated with drone attacks.
Both governments have traded accusations over the source of violence. Islamabad blames Kabul for harboring members of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group responsible for a string of attacks, including a recent suicide bombing at a mosque in Islamabad. Kabul denies the charge, asserting Pakistan’s strikes have killed civilians.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that a temporary truce, from March 19 to 24, was brokered by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey — countries that have sought to prevent further escalation between the two Muslim-majority neighbors.
Catholic Leaders Call for Peace
Bishop Samson Shukardin of Hyderabad, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan, welcomed the ceasefire and urged a measured approach to the conflict.
“We call for peace and an end to war. Together with Pope Leo XIV, we urge both sides to sit and dialogue,” he told EWTN News. “At the same time, we stand in unity with the nation and all government departments, including the army. Our loyalties lie with the progress of the country and the safety of our borders. We call for unity.”
Shukardin emphasized that the Church, while refraining from political comment, “must address military matters to guide the community along the right path,” adding that state officials are increasingly attentive to the perspectives of faith leaders.
Human Rights Advocates Caution Restraint
Christian rights advocate Luke Victor endorsed the bishops’ message of unity but warned against military overreach. “We appreciate defensive actions of our military but denounce overreach into politics,” he said. “Likewise, we condemn enforced disappearances and election manipulation. Truth, justice, and human rights must remain our first priority.”
His remarks echoed long-standing concerns about the Pakistani military’s powerful role in governance. The army has ruled the country directly for nearly half of its 78-year history and retains significant influence in civilian affairs.
Fraying Pakistan–Afghanistan Relations
Islamabad’s relationship with Kabul has deteriorated since 2021, when Pakistan hailed the Taliban’s return to power as the “logical conclusion” of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Since then, Pakistani officials have accused the Taliban government of sheltering militants conducting cross-border attacks, while Kabul alleges Islamabad’s air operations target civilians.
According to the 2026 Global Terrorism Index, Pakistan was the world’s most terrorism-affected country last year, recording 1,139 deaths, 1,595 injuries, and 1,045 attacks in 2025 — nearly a 6% rise in fatalities and a sharp increase in hostage-taking.
Afghan Christians and Deportation Fears
Victor also voiced concern over the ongoing plight of Afghan Christians living in Pakistan. In November 2023, he joined a Supreme Court petition challenging a caretaker government directive to deport “illegal immigrants,” a policy widely viewed as targeting Pakistan’s 4.4 million Afghan residents. The court disposed of the petition in January 2025.
“Many Afghan converts to Christianity had served with U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan,” Victor said. “They could not openly declare their faith because of potential stigma or reprisals from their Muslim families. Their forced deportation to the Taliban was a death sentence.”
He urged Church leaders to accompany their praise of the military with advocacy for refugee protection. “Afghan Christians should have been placed under the care of Church authorities as refugees,” he continued. “While praising the military, Church leaders must also demand protection for such minority groups.”
As Pakistan navigates deepening border instability and political uncertainty, Church leaders insist that peace and justice remain inseparable — and that true national strength, as Bishop Shukardin noted, springs not only from courage on the battlefield but from compassion and dialogue at the negotiation table.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA
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