Essay: RELATION BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN

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RELATION BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN
INTRODUCTION
In modern world no two states share same destiny as Pakistan and Afghanistan. Both these states have suffered from misfortune due to their geo-strategic position. There people and lands have been at cross-roads of many ongoing empires. From British Empire in India to Soviet Union expansion during cold war to present day involvement of super powers like U.S.
Due to this hyper activity of great powers, these regions had to pay the price of suffering it went through in form of economic and societal imbalance. As a result, both these countries share relationship of mistrust and complexity towards each other.
MAJOR FACTOR INFLUENCING PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN RELATIONSHIP
DURAND LINE
The Durand line was drawn in 1893 as frontier border between British India and Pakistan. The demarcation also resulted in division of Pashtun population in half, thus sowing seeds for a permanent source of conflict.The Pakistan side of Durand line includes provinces of Baluchistan , north west province and fata. The afghan side includes Nuristan. People on both sides of border consider it as ” soft-border” across which they move freely without major restrictions. This has also been a serious reason for Pakistan being drawn into afghan conflicts.
The Durand line may not be a current issue at moment but it flares up whenever Pakistan suggest mining it to stop cross border insurgent movement.
WATER ISSUE
Pakistan and Afghanistan share a number of rivers. So far due to instable situation in Afghanistan and absence of control and authority, it could not initiate any energy production projects on its rivers. However, now foreign energy investment firms have expressed their interest in building dams.
Keeping in view these developments, there have been many attempts towards toward renegotiation of a 1921 bilateral treaty on water sharing between two countries, but with the existing issue of mistrust between two countries there are chances that water issue will become a point of major dispute between two countries in near future.
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ECONOMIC INTEGRATION AND TRADE BETWEEN COUNTRIES
 
Due to its geographic location and nearest sea-lane for Afghanistan, Pakistan holds position of biggest trading partner for Afghanistan. Afghanistan is the third largest export market for Pakistan. But due to lack of system and lack of regulation at border, smuggling and illegal trade takes place in a large volume. Volume of both legal and illegal between two countries is more than 5 billion. Moreover, signing of Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) will further improve trade relation between two countries.
 
INDIAN FACTOR
India’s involvement in internal affairs of Pakistan since its creation through Afghanistan has created instability in Pakistan. It is also source of core problematic issue in Pak-Afghan relation. Both India and Afghanistan partnered together has become a source of apprehension for Pakistan at western and eastern borders. Except for Taliban regime, India has supported every regime came into power in Afghanistan that opposed Pakistan.
Pakistan’s major concern is the role of India in Afghanistan where India not only involves in reconstructive efforts but also tries to exploit such Pak-afghan relations and creates disorder in sensitive areas of Pakistan.
Indian presence in Afghanistan cannot be curb as Afghanistan holds soft corner for india as it is the fifth largest donor in Afghanistan but efforts can be make from both sides of country to distort this complex relation and create peace and harmony between two countries.
According to former president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai
India is a good friend while Pakistan is a conjoined twin of Afghanistan.
 
 
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CURRENT RELATIONS BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES
The progress towards friendly and bilateral relations is still rough as Afghanistan continues to blame Pakistan for harboring and launching Taliban. On the other side, Pakistan continues to castigate Afghanistan for its failure to curb cross-border attacks into Pakistan which are launched by remnants of Taliban hiding in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan officials have their own perspective of Pakistan’s actions, they consider that reason behind Pakistan’s actions is to pressurize Afghanistan in recognition of Durand line and Pakistan’s historical paranoia. According to afghans Pakistan fears a stable Afghanistan because then it would position of Pakistan in all international alliances.
These assertions contain an element of truth but only to a certain extent. Reasons for Pakistan to intervene in Afghanistan are far more larg and ambiguous than what is commonly perceived.
The afghan leadership must take responsibility of failures in Afghanistan. Maintaining stable relation with Taliban is the work of afghan government. They need move beyond rhetoric blame against Pakistan and get their system in order. Exerting pressure on Pakistan will not deliver peace between two countries.
POLICY OPTIONS FOR PAKISTAN
· Pakistan needs to address Afghanistan as an equal independent partner and engage directly with afghan government in developing peace and harmony between two countries.
· A very important subject that plays a huge role is protection of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan. The conflicts in Afghanistan has caused displacement of people. Pakistan needs to secure FATA before war in Afghanistan transfers to Pakistan.
· In order for Pakistan to have influential role in Afghanistan, Pakistan needs to bring shifts in policies towards Afghanistan. It should focus more towards contribution in reconstruction in Afghanistan as this would give Pakistan a greater edge and will balance India’s influence.
· Pakistan is playing an important as mediator between Afghanistan government and Taliban. Pakistan needs to take steps carefully as ongoing impacts of Taliban in Afghanistan can be transferred in the country , if Pakistan showed negligence in policy making.
· In dealing with conflicts between two countries, Pakistan must convince US to recognize Durand line so that their common border could be secured against terrorism.
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CONCLUSION
Despite afghan government’s regular outburst against Pakistan, Pakistani government has demonstrated restrained reaction. It has extended all efforts to restore relations as well as revive peace talks. However, afghan authorities have been less forthcoming. Pakistan has exerted whatever influence it can on Taliban but afghan leadership must realize its own responsibility.
Pakistan’s role in peace process is vital. Ashraf Ghani ,the president of Afghanistan, has acknowledged that partnership with Pakistan Is an important pillar in Afghanistan ‘s foreign policy. Hence, it will be beneficial for afghan government to initiate peace talks. Exerting pressure on Pakistan, on the contrary, it will only harm the gains made so far in peace progress.