Pakistan and Afghanistan are not only neighboring countries but also share common, cultural, historical, ethnic, and religious ties. Both countries also share a 2,640 KM long border, known as the “Pak-Afghan International Border”. Due to its geostrategic importance, Afghanistan is not only a gateway to Central Asian countries but linked Pakistan with Central Asian countries through the Wakhan strip. Since its independence Pakistan faced a hostile attitude from Afghanistan except for the Taliban rule (1997-2001).
Otherwise, all rulers of Afghanistan showed fluctuating behavior towards Pakistan.
Pakistan’s foreign policy is based on establishing ‘friendly and cordial relations with all nations including its neighbors. After the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, Pakistan accepted an influx of Afghan refugees, and now about 3 million Afghan refugees reside in Pakistan. After the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, Pakistan pay a heavy price and suffered more than any country in the region. It lost 80,000 lives of its people and a 100 million dollar economy loss. Pakistani forces fought a decade-long war with terrorists to bring peace to the country. But Afghan soil is still the main hub of organized terrorist networks like Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) that operates against Pakistan and then went back to bordering areas of Afghanistan.
Pakistan government for a long time urged the Afghan gov’t to take action against Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan or deny them space to operate out of Afghan soil but no serious action was taken against these groups. After the Taliban take over in Kabul the terrorist attacks in Pakistan increased by TTP, BLA, and other groups. The multiple-time fence disruption by the Taliban on Pak-Afghan international border has created anger in Pakistan but Pakistan shows calm and patience because Pakistan does not want to disrupt the peace effort in Afghanistan.
Pakistan government asked Taliban government to negotiate with the Pakistani Taliban under the ambit of Pakistan law because the current Afghan gov’t has the influence on Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) who are living in mountainous areas near the Pak-Afghan border, but TTP refused to do so. Although an interim ceasefire was made, it was canceled due to their harsh demands. There is an imminent threat of Daesh and Baluch insurgents that they can join TTP. The Taliban government in Kabul is not pressurizing enough TTP to make a permanent ceasefire with Pakistani authorities, because they have the fear that if they pressurize them they would join Daesh or ISIS which will create problems for them.
Pakistan is doing everything for Afghanistan, more than its capacity and burden. Pakistan is not only providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan but facilitating a large number of Afghan refugees who cross daily into Pakistan. Pakistan is demanding to the rest of the world to do more for Afghanistan, restore Afghan frozen asserts, and recognize the Taliban government. The conference of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) in Islamabad over the Afghan crisis was a big initiative taken by Pakistan.
Pakistan’s top political and military leadership has always said that a stable, sovereign and peaceful Afghanistan is one of Pakistan’s top priorities. Because stable Afghanistan is the Guarantee of a stable Pakistan. In May 2021 when Pak Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javaid Bajwa visited Afghanistan reiterated that “a peaceful Afghanistan means a peaceful region in general and a peaceful Pakistan in particular”.
In this regard, the world has witnessed that Pakistan has done every effort and played its pivotal role in facilitating the Afghanistan peace process and bringing the Afghan Taliban and US to negotiating table to avert a civil war in the country. Pakistan also demanded Taliban to respect the human rights, women’s rights, and an inclusive Afghan government’ which should be included in all Afghan ethnic groups. Pakistan always said peace in Afghanistan will bring peace to Pakistan. This thing shows Pakistan’s desire for peace not only within the country but in the neighboring country.
Pakistan’s policy toward Afghanistan is wide and clear and for this purpose, Pakistan is not only providing economic and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan but also demanding the rest of the world to save the human catastrophe in Afghanistan. Pakistan has always emphasized the need to end armed conflict in Afghanistan through a non-military solution for achieving long-lasting peace in Afghanistan and the region.
Pakistan and Afghanistan should make every effort to establish good and strong relations, which is in the interests of both countries. They should reduce India’s political and security influence in Afghanistan on every coast. Because this India factor is the main hurdle in bringing peace to both countries. After the Taliban takeover in Kabul India’s role in Afghanistan is zero and now India is searching for a new role in Afghanistan. If India succeeds in its plan then India will again spoil the peace efforts both in Afghanistan and Pakistan as it has done in the past. Pakistan should have to increase its development projects in Afghanistan as it has done in the past by making different infrastructure projects and giving scholarships and technical training in different fields to Afghan students. The Afghan gov’t should have to respect the sovereignty of Pakistan and make sure that, its soil is not to be used against Pakistan. Mutual respect, mutual understanding and mutual trust is the only way that can bring peace and prosperity to both countries.
