Thursday February 23, 2017
Kabul (BNA) Afghanistan-Pakistan relations refer to the bilateral ties between the two nations.
Both neighboring states are Islamic Republics, part of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and designated by the United States as major non-NATO allies.
Relations between the two countries have been subject to various complexities over the past decades, by issues related to the Durand Line, the 1978-present war (i.e. Mujahideen, Afghan refugees, Taliban insurgency and border skirmishes), including water and the growing relations of India and Afghanistan. However, the two states are working together to find solutions to these problems. This includes possible defense cooperation and intelligence sharing as well as further enhancing the two-way trade and abolishment of visas for both sides’ diplomats. Since Pakistan gained independence in 1947, relations between the two sides have faced ups and downs. Based on international relations law, needs, security and economy issues, cultural similarities, and international treaties can pave the way for further growing of relations between the states. Afghanistan-Pakistan relations have never been good as it was in Taliban era. In fact, Afghanistan has faced many challenges over the last more than three decades, resulted to be changed into an instable and weak country in all fields.
Most of experts call Taliban a Pakistani sovereignty not Afghani, because they believe that the Taliban have always been supported by Pakistan.
Relations between the two sides have become more strained after the Afghan government began openly accusing Pakistan of using its ISI spy network in aiding the Taliban and other terrorist groups. There have been a number of reports about both sides’ skirmishes, which usually occur when army soldiers are in hot pursuit chasing insurgents who cross the order back and forth. This leads to tensions between the two states, especially after hearing reports of civilian casualties. Pakistan has always vowed to cooperate with the government of Afghanistan in peace talks with insurgents, but it has never been honest in this regard, as recently, it restarted shelling inside Afghan soil which resulted in injuring many innocent people. Pakistan has always violated the international relations rule and never observed the inter-governments relations’ principle.
Lailuma Noori
