That the people to people
contact between the Pakistan and Afghanistan has always been considered as a
means of linkage is more than obvious. This transnational bondage has always
defied the existence of physical boundaries and divisions between both
countries. That the Afghans have always been entertained by Pakistan is more
than evident in the case of housing thousands of refugees during the Soviet
invasion of Afghanistan. The lack of employment opportunities had also compelled
many to seek their livelihood across the border. Being linked by an
approximately 2600km long boundary with the landlocked Afghanistan, Pakistan has
also served as its major trading partner with at least 80% of Afghanistan’s
trade depending upon its neighboring Pakistan.
This age old bondage however is not enough to enhance the bilateral relations
between both countries, for which further steps and initiative ought to be taken
by the respective governments. To reach the next level there is a need to
develop a joint pre and post conflict strategy as both stand facing a direct
blow from terrorism upon their respective territories. And the eventual drawdown
of the US forces from Afghanistan and its visible aftermath will be shared by
both.
As both had borne the brunt of a war three decades back will again be left alone
to lick the wound inflicted by this decade long war with a horde of extremist
groups at their hands to de-radicalize and reintegrate into the society,
accompanied by a colossal pressure from the international community and Human
rights organizations for not handling things correctly. This reintegration
process may take another decade to kick off as things in the South Asian
continent move with a painful slowness. Pakistan has always been the one silent
force behind the Afghan strength to fight both the Soviets and the terrorists,
without the Pakistani help where would Afghanistan be is something that
Afghanistan needs to ponder upon.
Construction of Gawadar port would not only benefit Pakistan but same is true
for Afghanistan as it would link the land locked Afghanistan to outside world.
It needs Pakistan’s help for continuity and success of war against those
elements that are common enemies of both the countries. This issue needs
immediate attention of both the countries. They should try to remove all
suspicions in their mutual relationship. In case of refugees issue both the
countries should work for the safe return and rehabilitation of the Afghans
residing in Pakistan for decades. Afghanistan can also seek support of Pakistan
in its reconstruction pursuits.
The proposed natural gas pipeline of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan and Pakistan is
highly dependent upon the relationship of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The proposed
gas pipeline would initiate from the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan border region in
southeastern Turkmenistan to Multan, Pakistan, with an extension to India
comprising 400 miles. The project was estimated to cost US$ 2.9 billion for the
segment to Pakistan and an additional US$ 600 million for the extension to
India. Both the countries should realize that this pipeline would not only bring
peace and prosperity but a significant development in their relationship as
well. A commentator on Pak-Afghan relations stated that the pipeline would be
offering a much-needed financial boost to war-devastated Afghanistan in terms of
transit fee. It was further stated that despite various security repercussions
once Afghans start realizing meaningful economic benefits in terms of jobs and
huge transit fee, they would themselves be ensuring the pipeline’s safety.
In addition, Pakistan also needs Afghanistan’s strategic support to neutralize
increased Indian diplomatic activities in Afghanistan. It can also assist in
checking cross-border infiltrations which try to damage development and
infrastructure in the two frontier provinces of Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and
Balochistan. Together both the countries can fight firmly and resolutely against
drug trafficking which is one of the common social issues faced by Pakistan and
Afghanistan. They can jointly guard and monitor the international border to stop
this illegal trade.
The event of 9/11 compelled Pakistan to pursue anti-Taliban policy that Pakistan
had been supporting politically and diplomatically during the 1990s. Pakistan
committed itself to fight global war against terrorism and to reconstruct war
ravaged Afghanistan. It actively participated and mustered support during and
after the donor conferences aimed to rebuild Afghanistan. Pakistan deployed more
than 80,000 troops to stop alleged infiltrators crossing into Afghan territory.
However, in the long run this cooperation on terrorism has entered an era of
trouble. Key Afghan Officials in Kabul have been pointing their fingers at
Pakistan for some time, accusing it of turning a blind eye to cross-border
terrorism targeting the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) forces and Afghan central
government.
While there have been encouraging recent developments between Afghanistan and
Pakistan, Pakistan’s suspicion of India threatens to entrench relations of
conflict and competition at the expense of cooperation and stability. There are
several ways to read India’s current engagement with Afghanistan. Since the
overthrow of the Taliban, India has invested heavily in renewing its ties with
Afghanistan. At present, India is the largest regional donor to Afghanistan’s
reconstruction, having offered more than $1.2-billion since 2001.
India’s growing involvement in Afghanistan can also be seen as advancing more
specific strategic goals. For one, Afghanistan is geographically positioned to
serve as a viable access route for energy coming from Central Asia. One of
India’s major infrastructure initiatives has been to construct a highway linking
Afghanistan’s ring road to Iranian ports on the Persian Gulf. This highway could
effectively reduce, if not eliminate, Afghanistan’s current dependence, as a
land-locked state, on Pakistan for sea access.
Also, India’s involvement in Afghanistan can be seen as an effort to displace or
counterbalance Pakistan’s influence in the country, which some elements within
Afghanistan welcome. India has strong ties to the so-called Northern Alliance.
Many of its leaders were educated in India, including Afghan President Hamid
Karzai. As India’s power in Afghanistan expands, especially its soft power,
Pakistan is losing its position of economic and strategic privilege. In its
place is a power with possibly hostile intentions against it. For example,
India’s consulates in Afghanistan are according to Christine Fair, involved in
covert activity that works in fomenting separatist movements in Pakistan.
In this backdrop, it should be realized that Pakistan and Afghanistan have
unquestionable significance for each other. Geostrategic, political, economic
and other reasons make it imperative for both the countries to have cordial
relations. Establishing cordial relations between these two can contribute a lot
in making this strategically important region prosperous besides defeating and
removing many ills being faced by the two potential of South Asia countries. But
such a prospect would be neutralized by foreign powers if leadership of both the
countries remains unable to tackle all outstanding issues in their bilateral
relationship. Role of any such external elements have to be coped with in order
to avoid jeopardizing of their short and long term interests. The destiny of
Afghanistan to prosperity is linked with Pakistan.