One of South Asia’s most enduring and intricate problems is the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Both countries still experience mistrust and instability stemming from cross-border terror attacks, political misconceptions, and foreign meddling, despite having a similar history, religion, and geographic location. In addition to impeding regional development, the prolonged conflict has maintained social division, poverty, and insecurity.
A shared policy framework that prioritizes combating cross-border terrorism, fostering communication through multilateral and bilateral platforms, growing economic ties, lowering public hatred, and limiting outside influence is necessary for Pakistan and Afghanistan to achieve enduring peace. This viewpoint investigates how such a structure might guide both countries towards a future that is peaceful and stable.
The problem of cross-border terrorism is at the core of the tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan has always voiced concerns about terrorist organizations attacking its country on Afghan soil. Afghanistan has also charged that there are forces in Pakistan that support or tolerate insurgent networks. For years, this reciprocal blame has exacerbated mistrust and thwarted attempts at peace.
Both countries must acknowledge terrorists as a shared risk rather than a means of gaining strategic advantage if they are to find a long-term solution. Coordinated border operations, intelligence sharing, and cooperative counterterrorism initiatives can all greatly weaken terrorist organizations’ capabilities. Forming a Combined Border Security Commission with representatives from the military, intelligence community, and civilian sector will formalize collaboration and guarantee that safety precautions are balanced by humanitarian issues.
Lack of consistent and organized communication is one of the main causes of the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict’s persistence. Reactive diplomacy, blame-focused comments, and sporadic meetings have only made the communication gap wider. Both countries must take a two-pronged approach to dialogue—bilateral and multilateral—in order to reverse this. Bilateral agreements allow both governments to openly address delicate topics including trade regulation, refugee repatriation, and border control.
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Yearly foreign minister meetings and frequent high-level summits would guarantee continuity. Ideally, a Permanently Joint Peace Commission should be established to oversee the implementation of all bilateral treaties and offer suggestions for new issues.
In both nations, unemployment and economic hardship continue to be the main causes of instability. Smuggling, drug trafficking, and black market operations have thrived due to the lack of strong trade and investment linkages. Therefore, enhancing economic connectedness is a peace strategy as well as a development plan. The establishment of cross-border industrial zones and trade corridors that create jobs and benefits both nations should be their main priorities.
To enable more efficient transportation of commodities, programs like the Afghan-Pakistan Transit and Trade Agreement (APTTA) need to be extended. In addition to fostering interdependence, promoting cooperative projects in infrastructure, agriculture, and energy will make peace financially advantageous for all parties. Additionally, regional projects like the CASA-1000 energy project and the CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) and public-private partnerships can include Afghanistan.
Although relations are shaped by government policy, the emotions and thoughts of common people are the true source of peace. Propaganda, false information, and bad narratives have fueled animosity between the people of both countries for decades. Both governments must start social and cultural diplomacy initiatives focused at fostering understanding and reconciliation in order to combat this.
Future generations can view one another as allies rather than adversaries by developing exchange programs for students, cultural festivals, and collaborative academic research projects. Prejudice can be further reduced by joint media programs and films that emphasize religious values, linguistic connections, and historical linkages.
Keeping foreign meddling in Pakistan-Afghanistan matters to a minimum is one of the most important measures towards peace. Deeper division and protracted instability are the outcomes of external forces using local disputes for their own strategic ends, as history has demonstrated. Both countries need to claim responsibility for their peace process on a regional level.
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International organizations can provide humanitarian or technical assistance, but regional leaders must set the political agenda. In order to promote regional stability without enforcing external agendas, Pakistan and Afghanistan will benefit from establishing a Central and South Asian Peace Forum and including neighbors like China, Iran, and the other Central Asian Republics. Both countries may create solutions that honor their sovereignty, customs, and common interests by putting internal discussion ahead of outside pressure.
The following policy actions are suggested in light of the framework mentioned above:
Create a Bilateral Border Security Commission to coordinate counterterrorism efforts and exchange intelligence. Establish yearly Pakistan-Afghanistan Peace discussions at the levels of the government and civil society. Through cooperative ventures, energy projects, and trade routes, strengthen economic ties. Start educational and cultural exchange initiatives to foster trust at the local level. To guarantee regional solutions free from undue foreign intervention, establish a Central and South Asian Peace Forum. Encourage fair media representations to lessen public animosity and promote goodwill.
The resolution of the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict necessitates policy-driven cooperation based on respect and shared responsibility, not blame or military action. Long-lasting peace can be achieved by combating cross-border terrorism, enhancing communication, growing trade, lowering animosity, and minimizing outside intervention. Not only will peace between the Pakistan and Afghanistan stabilize their respective borders, but it will also turn South Asia into a place of chance, connectivity, and optimism. Although challenging, the route is not insurmountable. Now, we need regional solidarity, political determination, and a real commitment to transforming neighbors into partner and conflict into collaboration.
*The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of TDI.
Zakia Kousar
Zakia Kousar is an undergraduate student in International Relations at Thal University Bhakkar. She is a young researcher interested in international security, foreign policy, and peacebuilding.
