The document discusses Pak-Afghan relations and offers suggestions for improving them. It notes that both countries face security threats from militancy and terrorism. It suggests that Pakistan and Afghanistan establish joint border security, enhance economic cooperation, and resolve disputes over Taliban sanctuaries and Indian influence in a spirit of mutual understanding and respect for sovereignty. Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai also provided a two-point solution: jointly fighting terrorism and Pakistan accepting Afghanistan's sovereignty and non-interference in its foreign relations. Experts say the countries must cooperate regionally and normalize bilateral relations.
2. PAK-AFGHAN RELATIONS
CONCLUSSIONS
• Given the geographical, political and economic
realities in Afghanistan, efforts for
reconstruction of the battered country, which
already face criticism on accounts of lack of
integration, direction and political will, are
likely to assume a traditional and indigenous
outlook after the US and its allies leave the
region.
• Pakistan’s foreign policy towards Afghanistan.
3. PAK-AFGHAN RELATIONS
• Pakistan remains concerned over India’s
presence and influence in Afghanistan and
holds it responsible for supporting the
insurgents in Baluchistan. Afghanistan’s main
concern is Taliban’s shelter in Pakistani tribal
areas and cross-border movements of
militants to support the Taliban in
Afghanistan.
4. PAK-AFGHAN RELATIONS
• Afghanistan has to live with its domestic and
regional realities. That is something which can
be built upon to establish friendly relations
among regional countries, particularly with a
view to establishing peace.
5. PAK-AFGHAN RELATIONS
• Firstly, the US is aware that after its troops
leave Afghanistan, the country can drift into
anarchy and civil war as had happened in the
early 1990s after the Soviet withdrawal. It
needs ‘assurances’ from regional stakeholders
that they would commit themselves to
achieving enduring peace and stability.
• Secondly, militancy and terrorism are neither
in the interest of Pakistan nor Afghanistan.
6. PAK-AFGHAN RELATIONS
• Thirdly, Economic and trade collaboration and
availing economic opportunities are dire
needs of both countries.
• Finally, neither country can ignore the wishes
of their people for peace, prosperity and
security.
7. PAK-AFGHAN RELATIONS
SUGGESTIONS
• The gaps in Afghanistan’s institutional capacity
and political preparedness notwithstanding,
Pakistan cannot afford to remain indifferent to
the security challenges facing Afghanistan
because they have a direct bearing on its own
security and stability. It is expected that after the
Heart of Asia Conference the two countries will
start to rebuild the shattered trust between
them, and there are some major areas where
they can engage to help bring peace and stability
to Afghanistan and the region.
8. PAK-AFGHAN RELATIONS
• Firstly, Pakistan and Afghanistan can engage
both bilaterally and through the Quadrilateral
Monitoring Committee.
• Secondly, the two countries should use the
emerging regional geo-economics to enhance
bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
9. PAK-AFGHAN RELATIONS
• Thirdly, because Pakistan and Afghanistan face
common security threats, they should create
some form of joint border security and
coordination mechanism.
• Finally, instead of engaging in a zero-sum game
vis-à-vis Afghanistan, Pakistan and India should
see their respective ties with that country more
realistically in the emerging dynamics of bilateral
and multilateral geo-economic engagements in
the region.
10. PAK-AFGHAN RELATIONS
• In an Interview with BBC Urdu on June 17, 2016
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai provided a
two point solution to end hostility between
Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Two-point solution :
• Both the countries jointly fight terrorism and
make serious efforts for its elimination, this will
bring peace to both of the countries.
• Pakistan should accept that Afghanistan is a
sovereign country and should respect it and stop
dictating us about friendship with India. We will
not back down on that.
11. PAK-AFGHAN RELATIONS
EXPERTS OPINION
• Experts say that Afghanistan and Pakistan
have to cooperate regionally and work
towards a normalization of their bilateral
relations.
( Date 14.09.2016)
(Author Shamil Shams, Waslat Hasrat-Nazim)
