Geography and History chains Pakistan with Afghanistan, defined by shared commonalities but in a conflictual relationship. As for Pakistan, history can only narrate the tale of switching sides vis-à-vis Afghanistan. Despite hosting more than 3 million refugees and sharing important geographical and cultural affinities, Pakistan has failed to carve friendly relations with Afghanistan. To take a hold of resurgent TTP in Pakistan, the state needs to revisit its policy towards Afghanistan for smooth and friendly relations as it suits its national interests. Since its inception, Pakistan holds a policy towards Afghanistan which is seen with suspicion, mistrust, and used reactive approach due to domestic factors as well as regional dynamics. Pakistan must revisit its policy and hope to have a security reassurance from Islamic Emirates in compliance to Doha Peace Settlement.

Pakistan’s foreign policy towards Afghanistan have always been conducted on U.S. terms and pressure either to side with Afghan Taliban or to radically change a pro-Taliban policy. Since GWOT, cross-border terrorism had engulfed millions of Pakistani lives. The empath and like-minded faction of TTA i.e., TTP emerged on north western belt of Pakistan. It was successfully led down by military operations in post 2014 but has resurfaced. It has proved to be the deadliest terror group against which Pak Army is in the state of war since its creation. They share the same ideology as of TTA, have sanctuaries in Afghanistan and emboldened after Taliban takeover in 2021. However, as per Doha Peace Accord, TTA would not allow Afghan soil to be used against any state for sponsoring terrorism and lately declared that it will take strict actions against violating security barriers but in practical, the case is otherwise.

The stability of Pakistan largely depends on the security assurances of Taliban as according to Doha agreement of peace. If Taliban assures and cooperate with Pakistan for a complete disconnect from TTP and collaborate for uprooting their safe heavens in Afghanistan only then Pakistan will be able to have a safe and secure environment. However, the practical implementation of Doha Agreement is not seeable in near future.

A state can choose its friends and foes, but neighbors. The connectivity has become a face of unavoidable conflict that Pakistan is suffering till date. With the resurgence of TTP, Pakistan currently, is in dire need to reorient its policy towards Afghanistan. This fixated and rigid policy has overshadowed multiple commonalities of geographical contiguity, demographic overlap, religious and cultural affinity, and shared history. Pakistan is fighting off an inside war with extremist groups like TTP, BLA etc. which are showing off themselves as a grave threat to the national interests and security of Pakistan. The security, stability and development of Pakistan holds the quintessence of improved Pak-Afghan relations through enhanced cooperation in the light of a revised Afghan policy.

Pakistan is already a security state while Afghanistan is a landlocked country, contemporary in need of foreign aid and humanitarian assistance with international recognition. Pakistan needs to revisit its foreign policy towards Afghanistan at the earliest. Now is the time when Pakistan needs to realize time and decision ascendancy. To eradicate terrorism within Pakistan, it could use hardline approach of military but with Afghanistan it should be a people centric approach, conditional on security guarantees of Afghan Taliban. Pakistan needs convergence of interests through people centric approach which will lead to win-win situation and establish a common ground for sustainable peace with Afghanistan.

Pakistan needs to take a shift from its linear approach to a comprehensive and constructive engagement with all segments of Afghan society based on interdependence and cooperation.

Afghan people are going through hard times and need someone to come forward and hold their hand for humanitarian and financial assistance. Afghan Taliban requires international recognition for it and the world demands for an all-inclusive government and a security guarantor Afghanistan. The goal seems hard to achieve but till the time, Pakistan should come forward for Afghan people because citizens are the ones that are shaken to core and accounts for collateral damage.

TTA should conform to the Doha agreement at first place because it would be the first step and a call for cooperative engagement with the outside world. As for Pakistan, it should transform its porous border of conflict into border of peace and cooperation. The cooperation must be multi-faceted. It should be based on multiple trade and transit route with security clearance process as security can never take a back seat in already tense environment. Also, equal number of ‘hubs of cooperation’ mandated to facilitate trade, health, education and other basic necessities should be established.

It is time for Pakistan to learn from the past mistakes. Alongside, the policy imperatives for Pak-Afghan improved relations should focus on people centric approach as well as include asymmetric interdependence at state and societal level. A key lesson and driver of better relations with Afghanistan is the rule of non-intervention with Afghanistan’s internal power politics and say no to any support to any ethnic group and non-state actor. Pakistan is striving hard to eradicate terrorism from the country and cannot afford to fuel resentments of Afghan Taliban and people that would in turn burn Pakistan itself. Pakistan’s north-western belt coincides with Afghanistan thus, it is in the best interest of Pakistan to have friendly, stable and sustainable relations with Afghanistan.