A shared horizon: why Pak-Afghan ties matter

Express Tribune

6 hours ago

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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.