Clash of unequals: Why Pakistan is relying on air power against Afghanistan

Pakistan and Afghanistan have, over the years, repeatedly exchanged fire along their international border, including in clashes since October last year.Pakistan has overwhelming military superiority over the Taliban regime. Yet, as in previous periods of conflict, Islamabad has stopped short of launching a full-scale ground offensive into Afghanistan. Instead, it has relied primarily on air strikes against targets inside Afghan territory.This raises a central question: why has Pakistan relied on air power rather than launching a ground offensive in Afghanistan?Pakistan and Afghanistan: Tensions despite cultural tiesThe two countries are more than immediate neighbours. They share deep ties rooted in religion, ethnicity, food and social traditions. Pakistan is also home to a large population of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers.