A shared horizon: why Pak-Afghan ties matter

Listen to article
Few bilateral relationships in South Asia are as deeply rooted and strategically consequential as those between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Shaped by centuries of interconnected history, overlapping ethnicities and geographic proximity, this bond remains vital not only to the futures of both nations, but to the collective peace and prosperity of the region.
Pakistan's approach to Afghanistan has long been guided by a clear strategic principle: peace and stability in one country is essential to the sustainability of the other. From shared borders and interwoven tribes to economic dependencies and cultural affinities, the relationship transcends mere diplomacy. Pashtuns, Hazaras and other ethnic groups straddle both sides of the Durand Line, reinforcing the reality that these are not just neighboring states, but are socially and historically intertwined societies.
While international discourse on Afghanistan tends to oscillate between periods of intense focus and indifference, Pakistan's engagement has remained steady. It has pursued dialogue with every Afghan government, irrespective of political orientation, rooted in a belief that only Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace can yield durable stability. Even amid setbacks and strained moments, Pakistan has consistently chosen constructive diplomacy over provocation, acting from the perspective of regional responsibility rather than tactical convenience.
One of the most tangible manifestations of this consistency lies in Pakistan's long-standing humanitarian commitment. For more than four decades, Pakistan has hosted over four million Afghan refugees — many of whom have integrated into local communities, contributing to society and shaping generations of diaspora identity. This effort is one of the largest and most enduring refugee-hosting initiatives in modern history and is a testament to the depth of Pakistan's social resilience and regional empathy.
Critically, this refuge has been more than shelter — it has been an investment in people. Over 100,000 Afghan students have graduated from Pakistani institutions, and more than 7,000 are currently enrolled in universities across the country. The Allama Iqbal Scholarship initiative and dozens of school-level programmes have widened access to education, especially for Afghan girls. Many of these graduates now serve as civil servants, doctors, entrepreneurs and educators in Afghanistan, applying skills they acquired across the border.
Pakistan's support is also visible inside Afghanistan itself. Institutions such as the Liaquat Ali Khan Engineering Faculty in Balkh, Rehman Baba School in Kabul, and healthcare facilities like Jinnah Hospital and the Nishtar Kidney Centre reflect long-term, needs-based investments. These projects are not mere diplomacy by brick and mortar, they are foundations of development that serve Afghan society daily.
Infrastructure cooperation has emerged as a central pillar of Pakistan's regional strategy. The Torkham-Jalalabad highway, internal road systems in Nangarhar, and the Chaman-Spin Boldak and Peshawar-Jalalabad railway carriageways aim to transform Afghanistan from a landlocked buffer zone into a connective hub. With links to Central Asia, the Gulf and South Asia, Afghanistan's geostrategic value can only be realised through regional cooperation; and Pakistan is prepared to support that transformation.
That said, the relationship has not been free of strain. Historical tensions, amplified by shifting alliances and India's influence in Afghan politics, have at times sowed mistrust. However, even when faced with hostile rhetoric and misinformation, Pakistan has not walked away from engagement
Pakistan's response to the events of August 2021, when the Afghan government collapsed and a new political order emerged, further reinforced its commitment. While many Western nations reneged on promises to rebuild Afghanistan, Pakistan refused to balk out and kept acting in good faith.
Beyond individual policies and initiatives lies an essential truth: for South and Central Asia to realise their collective potential, Afghanistan must be brought into the regional fold. Be it through trade corridors, energy transit lines or counterterrorism coordination, a peaceful and integrated Afghanistan benefits every stakeholder.
However, to realise that vision, both countries must commit not only to cooperation, but to trust-building. The future of bilateral relations lies not just in high-level visits or official declarations, but in robust people-to-people diplomacy. Academic exchanges, youth collaborations, cultural forums and decentralised trade.
It is also essential for the international community to engage with this relationship with nuance and depth. Too often, global actors view Afghanistan through short-term security lenses, ignoring the subtleties of regional dynamics.
Ultimately, Pakistan cannot resolve every challenge Kabul faces. Nor can it dictate the course of Afghan politics. But what it can do — and has done — is to remain a constant: a consistent, empathetic and regionally grounded partner. In today's geopolitical terrain, where alliances are transactional and interests fleeting, this reliability carries immense value.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are more than neighbours. They are linked by history, kinship and shared trials. As both countries navigate turbulent times and shifting alliances, they must resist the temptation to retreat into suspicion. Instead, they must recognise that no enduring regional peace is possible without their cooperation — and that true partnership is not a matter of strategy alone, but of shared destiny.
The real question is not whether the Pak-Afghan ties matter. The real question is whether both nations — and their allies — are ready to nurture these ties with the long-term seriousness they deserve.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Express Tribune

4 hours ago

• Express Tribune

Iran-Israel conflict may spill into Pakistan: Masood Khan

Former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and senior diplomat Sardar Masood Khan warned that the intensifying conflict between Iran and Israel could have severe consequences for Pakistan's security, stability, and regional standing. In a series of interviews, He said that a prolonged war could prompt an influx of Iranian refugees into Pakistan, comparable to the fallout of the Afghan conflict. He cautioned that Pakistan's already stretched resources would come under further strain if hostilities in the Middle East persist. If the war drags on, there is a strong possibility of a mass exodus of Iranian refugees towards Pakistan,' Khan said. 'Such a scenario would create economic, political, and social pressure.' Khan also warned that instability on the western border could provide a gateway for infiltration by anti-state groups allegedly backed by hostile foreign powers, especially India. He named outfits like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) as potential threats. 'A weakened border with Iran could be exploited by proxies seeking to destabilise Pakistan,' Khan stated. Discussing Israel's strategic aims, Khan noted that Tel Aviv had already targeted Iranian nuclear infrastructure at Fordow, Natanz, Isfahan, and other critical sites. According to Khan, Israel claims to have neutralised nearly 40% of Iran's air defence network. He further alleged that Israel is pushing the United States either to intervene militarily or to grant approval for the limited use of tactical nuclear weapons. 'They're proposing subterranean nuclear strikes, which they argue would limit fallout,' Khan explained. 'But experts believe such thinking is dangerously naïve.' On international reactions, Khan said that while Russia and China have voiced support for Iran, Tehran has not formally sought military assistance. He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to mediate, a gesture welcomed by Iran but dismissed by Israel. Khan also highlighted ongoing diplomatic efforts, noting that the United States has allowed a 15-day window to decide its course. 'This has opened room for backchannel diplomacy,' he said. 'The British Foreign Secretary has been active in Washington, and even some of President Trump's advisors are calling for restraint.' Despite diplomatic movements, Khan warned that US military deployments in Europe, the Middle East, and at Diego Garcia signal preparation for escalation. 'The world stands at a perilous crossroads,' he concluded. 'We must prepare for all outcomes, even as we hope diplomacy prevails.' Meanwhile, Iran has condemned US airstrikes on its nuclear facilities as a grave breach of international law, warning of dangerous consequences and vowing to defend its sovereignty by all means. Read more: Tehran vows self-defence with 'all force' after US strikes three nuclear installations The strikes, carried out on June 21 and announced by US President Donald Trump, targeted Iran's main nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Trump declared the mission a success and warned Tehran of further attacks if it retaliates or refuses peace. The attack, launched in coordination with Israel amid its ongoing military attacks against Iran, marked a major escalation in regional tensions. Trump, flanked by senior US officials, said the strikes aimed to destroy Iran's nuclear capability and prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon. He later claimed all US aircraft had exited Iranian airspace safely. Iran denounced the strikes as criminal aggression and called on the United Nations and the IAEA to hold Washington accountable. Iranian officials accused both the US and Israel of undermining diplomacy, and criticised Western nations for demanding Iran return to talks it says it never left. Global reaction was mixed. Israel praised Trump's decision as historic, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres called it a dangerous escalation that threatens global security. The EU, UK, and several other nations urged de-escalation and a return to diplomacy. Countries including Venezuela, Cuba, and Qatar condemned the US action, warning of regional instability.

Express Tribune

12 hours ago

• Express Tribune

PPP straddles the fence on ally's hybrid model claims

Listen to article The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), once a fierce critic of the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for claiming to be "on the same page" with the establishment, now finds itself in a rather awkward silence after its key ally in the ruling alliance not only admitted to the existence of a hybrid model but appeared to wear the newfound power-sharing arrangement with the military as a badge of honour. The recent confession by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif – about what has long been an open secret – has laid bare an uncomfortable truth: the PML-N-led government is now openly conceding to operating under a power-sharing arrangement with the military. Asif not only just lifted the curtain but drew it wide open, calling the current setup "exemplary". What raised more than a few eyebrows was Asif's thinly veiled dig at his own party leader Nawaz Sharif. He even went on to say that Sharif's failure to implement such a hybrid model in the 1990s led to his early political exits – twice. The remark effectively undercuts Nawaz Sharif's oft-repeated claim that he was shown the door for "serving the country", making his once-defiant slogan "Mujhe Kyun Nikala" (why was I removed?) ring hollow. The PPP, which once rode the moral high horse in its opposition to military interference in civilian rule, now seems to have bitten its tongue. Its leaders, who once fired on all cylinders against PTI's so-called hybrid rule, suddenly appear to be walking on eggshells. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari not only coined the term "puppet PM" for Imran Khan but later wore that verbal jab as a political trophy, priding in having popularised the phrase during the waning days of the PTI government. Ironically, the PPP, formerly the loudest critic of the hybrid model, now appears at a loss for words about a system they themselves are actively part of. When asked to comment on Khawaja Asif's remarks, Chaudhry Manzoor, a PPP leader from Punjab, deflected, saying the question should instead be directed to the PML-N. When it was pointed out that the PPP had been vocally critical of such arrangements in the past, and now that its ally has openly admitted to it – thus making PPP complicit – he responded, "Unfortunately, I have neither listened to the interview nor do I have any knowledge about it". Senior PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira, when approached for comment, questioned whether anything Khawaja Asif said was actually new. "Wasn't this known to everyone all along?" he asked. When queried whether the PPP was now comfortable being part of a hybrid model, Kaira said he could not speak on behalf of the party and would need to consult the leadership to clarify their position. He also dodged the question regarding the PPP's historical criticism of hybrid arrangements, saying that only the party could take an official stance. Attempts to reach the party's Information Secretary Nadeem Afzal Chan and PPP leader from Sindh, Shazia Marri, for comments were unsuccessful.

Business Recorder

16 hours ago

• Business Recorder

India's water belligerence

That India has learnt no lesson from its humiliation that it has suffered in the battle field as well as on the diplomatic front at the hands of Pakistan is a fact that has found its best expression form its home minister Amit Shah's remarks that he made in an interview to an Indian newspaper yesterday. According to him, India will never restore the Indus Waters Treaty with Islamabad, and the water flowing to Pakistan will be diverted for internal use. This development clearly shows that it is a foolish attempt at face-saving. Needless to say, the incumbent government in India, which is the political face of Sangh Parivar, is working day in, day out to restore its tarnished image, but nothing is working for it. In my view, it is quite likely that the very public loss of credibility will lead to the demise of the Narendra Modi-led government in coming weeks or months, if not days. Saba Shaukat, Karachi Copyright Business Recorder, 2025