Afghanistan Peace Campaign
A visionary approach to Afghanistan relations should focus on the full spectrum of ties with Afghanistan rather than being confined to selective security aspects, Pakistan’s former ambassador to Afghanistan states.
Pakistan’s former ambassador to Afghanistan, Mansoor Ahmad Khan, stated that Islamabad has failed to convince the Taliban to take action against terrorist groups, including Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He emphasized the need for Pakistan to shift away from its decades-old security-focused approach toward Afghanistan.
In an article published in Dawn on Monday, Ahmad Khan highlighted the escalating cross-border attacks by groups like TTP and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which have caused heavy casualties among Pakistani civilians and military personnel.
The inability to secure cooperation from the Afghan Taliban to combat these groups has strained relations between Islamabad and Kabul, further deepening the divide between the two sides.
Ahmad Khan pointed out that the 2,600-kilometer border shared by the two countries, along with a population of 50 million with interlinked social, religious, ethnic, and economic ties, makes effective border management essential for peace and stability.
He noted that the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, which was relatively calm until the 1970s, has turned into a hub for regional and global terrorist activities, especially during the foreign interventions from 2001 to 2021 in Afghanistan.
Three years after the Taliban’s return to power, Ahmad Khan observed that Pakistan’s expectations for them to suppress groups like ISIS, TTP, and BLA have not been met. He also accused TTP of receiving external funding from countries hostile to Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.
Ahmad Khan criticized Pakistan’s reliance on pressure tactics, such as restrictions on visas, refugees, trade, and transit, calling them ineffective. Cross-border military strikes, he argued, have only worsened tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban.
He proposed that Pakistan adopt a political strategy, advocating diplomatic engagement with the Taliban based on principles of sovereignty, mutual respect, and non-interference. He stressed the importance of shifting focus from selective security concerns to a comprehensive bilateral relationship.
He pointed out that Proposed railway projects like Quetta-Kandahar and Peshawar-Jalalabad aim to enhance trade and transit between Pakistan and Afghanistan. These initiatives would boost economic activities, reduce transportation costs, and connect South Asia with Central Asia, promoting regional integration and stability.
The escalating tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban, fueled by cross-border militancy and strained diplomatic ties, highlight the urgent need for a balanced and collaborative approach to ensure regional stability. Without meaningful cooperation, the cycle of violence is likely to continue.
A political strategy that prioritizes economic integration, infrastructure development, and multilateral cooperation with regional and global partners could pave the way for improved relations. Strengthening ties through mutual benefits rather than unilateral demands may help stabilize the fragile dynamics between Pakistan and Afghanistan.