From the beginning Pakistan always wanted to pursue its strategic depth policy when it comes to the matters regarding Afghanistan. Every time, At least Pakistan wants a highly pro Pakistan government in Afghanistan. In this regard, Taliban in Afghanistan are considered closed ally to Pakistan. In the past few decades, the Taliban enjoyed great relations with Pakistan in a number of aspects. Keeping their past positive experience in mind, Pakistan was highly optimistic when the Taliban took the control of Kabul. Pakistan wanted to reshape its ties with the newly born regime on brand new patterns. However, it couldn’t achieve its goals and currently the relations between the two neighbors are highly dominated by misunderstandings and uncertainties.
Pakistan’s Desires of remaking good ties with Afghanistan emerged as a result of bad experience of bilateral relations with the past two regimes. During Ghani and Karzai governments, Pakistan faced several serious hardships in the wake of Pak-Afghan diplomatic ties. Continues border insurgencies and unnecessary Indian presence on Afghan Soil were among two of them. In this regard, Pakistan always blamed Afghan Government for allowing its soil to be used against Pakistan. Similarly, the so-called controversial nature of Durand line and security breach on it on various occasions were also highlighted matters of concern.
However, two years ago when regime change occurred in Afghanistan, many in Pakistan; both in decision makers and common people pursued it a positive change. They hoped for more peaceful region and active engagement with Afghanistan in this regard. Presence of several terrorist groups such as TTP on Afghanistan soil and India factor in between Pak-Afghan relations were the two major areas, that Pakistan wanted to be addressed. Today, after two years of The Taliban regime in Afghanistan, these two areas are probably in the most devastating condition as Pakistan have serious reservations regarding it. The TTP insurgents are feeling more safe under Taliban led Afghanistan. Similarly, violence and terrorism have increased massively on the western border and various areas of Pakistan. Moreover, the Afghan Taliban are pragmatically engaging India on various levels unlike past.
The TTP and Afghanistan Taliban enjoy deeply cordial relations in a number of aspects. They have ideological, ethnic and historic similarities. Similarly, they fought common enemy that is the United States and its western allies for the last two decades. while taking such strong bond between the two outfits into consideration, the TTP became highly strengthened as the Afghan Taliban came to power in August 2021. More importantly, the US left behind significant military hardware; in which a handsome amount went in the control of TTP. Similarly, the TTP attacks on Pakistan are massively increased after the Taliban government in Afghanistan. According to a report, in the first half year of 2023, 79 percent increased have been noticed in the terrorist attacks in the various areas across Pakistan. In the beginning of September this year, TTP launch a major assault on Chitral, which raises many important questions. Chitral is strategically important, and a brand new wave of violence and instability in the area is a major concern. Pakistan have serious reservations on such attacks and this is a significant matter of contention in ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Moreover, In the past year and half, the Taliban and Indian administration are closely cooperating in a number of sectors. This is the second notable point that brings uncertainty in the Pak-Afghan relations. The major cause of strained relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan is the India’s factor. Pakistan feels insecurity from the increasing ties between Taliban led Afghanistan and India. In the past, Pakistan always questioned the increased presence of India on Afghanistan’s soil. Pakistan really hoped for the new regional arrangements when the Taliban came into power in 2021, especially in with regards to India. However, it didn’t go Pakistan’s way and the Taliban led Afghanistan government and India enhanced their bilateral ties day by day. In the past few months, remarkable developments have been noticed in the various sectors of bilateral relations between Afghanistan and India.
After the first government of Taliban, India increased its ties with common Afghanis in the era between 2002 to 2021. Majority of common Afghanis have enmity with Pakistan over several matters; India exploited such sentiments in order to further ties with the people of Afghanistan. However, under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, unlike past India are enhancing its ties with the Islamic Emirates. For instance, people to people contact and projection of soft image and Power are two of the major goals of India in Afghanistan. Similarly, Afghanistan holds geopolitical importance for the region as well. Considering geopolitical importance of Afghanistan, India wants its presence and say in the Country. Both nations are keen to enhance their cooperation in various sectors such as Defense, health, food and overall general diplomacy. Pakistan considers such increased cooperation as a threat to its interests in the region and especially in Afghanistan. It is therefore, Pakistan haven’t good relationships with Afghanistan and the bilateral ties are greatly dominated by several issues and misunderstandings.
Despite all the obstacles and changing regional dynamics, Pakistan needs to adopt a more pragmatic and proactive approach to tickle the regional proceedings. Like others, Afghanistan is also a sovereign state and sooner or later, Pakistan have to realize this reality. Afghanistan is independent in shaping its ties where and with whom it wants to. Similarly, it has witnessed devastating situations for the last four decades and it badly needs infrastructural and human development. Whether this development and trade in Afghanistan is by the hands of India or someone else, Pakistan should not feel bad about it. However, Pakistan just needs to make sure that the land of Afghanistan is not used against Pakistan by India or anyone else, as it used to be in the past. Similarly, on the Issue of cross border insurgency and TTP, Pakistan should take Afghanistan’s authorities in to confidence and find a permanent solution to the problem, even if it is through meaningful negotiations.
