Experts urge sustained dialogue to improve Pakistan-Afghanistan ties

ISLAMABAD: Experts on Tuesday stressed the need for Pakistan and Afghanistan to adopt a long-term approach to their relationship, saying stronger bilateral ties could promote economic cooperation and regional connectivity.

Speaking at the discussion, titled “Understanding Kabul’s Perspective on the Future of Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations”, hosted by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), participants said that ideological, political and security considerations continued to shape the Afghan Taliban’s approach towards militant groups, including the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), with implications for the broader security environment between the two countries.

They said that sustained dialogue, coupled with realistic expectations, could help create opportunities for gradual progress in bilateral relations while allowing both sides to better understand each other’s priorities and objectives.

Participants noted that Pakistan-Afghanistan relations were influenced by multiple factors, including Pakistan’s security concerns as well as the Afghan Taliban’s ideological outlook, internal political dynamics, historical experiences, strategic calculations and perceptions of regional developments.

The discussion explored various policy options for addressing bilateral challenges, including the roles of security measures, diplomatic engagement, confidence-building initiatives and economic cooperation.

Participants also examined Kabul’s perceptions of Pakistan’s policies on border management, security operations, trade and travel regulations, and the repatriation of Afghan nationals.

While Pakistan views border regulation as a sovereign responsibility, they noted that such measures have also affected trade, educational exchanges, people-to-people contacts and broader bilateral engagement.

Several participants said sustained dialogue could help address these challenges.

The discussion further focused on the impact of regional geopolitics on Afghanistan’s strategic outlook, including its relations with India, China, Russia and the Central Asian states, and the implications for Pakistan-Afghanistan ties.

Participants also highlighted the potential of regional connectivity initiatives to foster long-term cooperation.

The speakers concluded that stable relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan would require sustained diplomatic engagement, stronger security cooperation, mutual consideration of each other’s security concerns, and deeper economic, trade and people-to-people links.

The panel included Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of the IRS; Elian Peltier, Pakistan and Afghanistan Bureau Chief for The New York Times; former ambassador to Afghanistan Abrar Hussain; senior journalists Tahir Khan and Hassan Khan; former ambassador to Afghanistan Arif Ayub; The New York Times correspondent Zia ur Rehman; Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director of the Centre for Research and Security Studies; and Aarish U Khan, Lead of the IRS Afghanistan Programme.