Our western neighbour, the Muslim-majority country of Afghanistan, has been a pain in the neck for Pakistan since the dawn of independence.
Pakistan applied for UN membership in September 1947 and Afghanistan was ironically the only country to vote against it. Despite this hostility and venomous behaviour, Pakistan has tolerated Afghan enmity. Under the second Taliban regime, hatred and hostility have intensified, with Kabul providing shelter and safe havens to Pakistan’s enemies to carry out nefarious activities and attacks against its security agencies. Pakistan today has reached the very limits of its patience and “nice-guy” attitude and many feel the time has come to respond in the language Afghanistan understands—force and firearms. Pakistan hosted over four million Afghans during the Soviet occupation and maintained a benevolent stance through the turmoil of the American occupation, yet there is little recognition or acceptance from the Afghan side for Pakistan’s role. The archaic, extremist Kabul regime appears to be an agent of death, destruction, chaos and conflict, struggling to survive, unrecognized by any country, with frozen American aid adding to its woes.
The borders are now more aggressively guarded, sharply reducing smuggling and further hurting the Afghan economy. The Taliban’s only remaining strategy seems to be conflict and terror to maintain their bloody grip on the country. This prolonged antagonism has strained regional stability, with cross-border militancy and economic dependence complicating relations. While Pakistan has borne the burden of Afghan refugees and extended goodwill, the current situation demands pragmatic strategies—combining diplomacy, security measures and economic leverage—to protect national interests while fostering conditions for eventual peaceful coexistence. Immediately after independence, Pakistan continued the trade facilities established by the British Indian government and today almost 70% of Afghanistan’s imports pass through Pakistan, reflecting the landlocked country’s complete dependence on its western neighbor for trade. Over decades of conflict in Afghanistan, generations of Afghans have lived, worked and earned their livelihoods in various Pakistani cities and even today, millions continue to benefit from Pakistan’s hospitality and goodwill. While the global community appears to have largely abandoned Afghanistan, Pakistan has consistently borne the burden of Afghan refugees and remains willing to assist the Afghan government in standing on its own feet. Pakistan also possesses significant leverage, including the ability to restrict Afghan trade routes that could severely impact the Afghan economy or use its influence with Gulf countries to curb political and economic support for Kabul until relations improve. Additionally, the safe harbor provided to the TTP in Afghanistan must be addressed decisively to prevent further cross-border militancy and safeguard regional security.
The Durand Line, drawn by the colonial British government, carved away large portions of Afghan territory and has never been accepted by Afghanistan. When the Pashtuns on this side of the line opted to join Pakistan in 1947, Afghanistan promoted the idea of Pakhtunistan for political leverage. Pakistan pursued a policy of strategic depth, seeking a pro-Pakistan regime in Kabul as a strategic asset, but this has largely failed, leaving Pakistan with few friendly faces in Afghanistan. The standoff over the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) using Afghan safe havens has further strained relations. While Kabul claims most TTP attacks originate within Pakistan, Pakistan’s firm stance against the TTP is pushing Afghanistan closer to India. Historically, Afghanistan remained neutral during wars between Pakistan and India, ensuring safe western borders, but there is no certainty this will continue in the future. Recent clashes in October 2025, resulting in dozens of Pakistani and hundreds of Afghan casualties, underscore the volatility, with both sides blaming each other for cross-border attacks and militant activity by groups like the TTP, BLA and IS-KP.
Pakistan’s military measures, including border closures and refugee repatriations, have worsened tensions and the Afghan Taliban’s reluctance to curb TTP attacks continues to destabilize Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Given the ongoing impasse, relations may deteriorate further. To secure peace and stability, Pakistan should prioritize people-to-people engagement, sending friendly signals to Afghan citizens and creating an environment conducive to trade and economic cooperation. Developing cordial relations benefits both nations by reducing border tensions, promoting economic integration and fostering mutual trust. Despite political disagreements, sustained efforts to engage the Afghan people directly could build a foundation for lasting cooperation and security along the western frontier.Third, Pakistan should send a friendly message to the people of Afghanistan, regardless of the government in Kabul. The Afghan people feel comfortable in Pakistan, which is Pakistan’s great strength. By deporting Afghans in droves, the anti-Pakistan lobby in Afghanistan will only be further strengthened, which should be avoided. Fourth, create a conducive environment for people-to-people contacts and business and investment opportunities, especially by encouraging Afghan businesspeople to invest in Pakistan. Afghan business people will be ready to invest billions of dollars in Pakistan, provided their investments are secure.
—The writer is Professor of History, based in Islamabad
