Catch-22: Pak-Afghan Relations

In recent news, authorities have indefinitely shut down the Pak-Afghan border at Chaman after Afghan demonstrators desecrated the Pakistan flag and pelted stones at the Friendship Gate. This has come weeks after the incident at Torkham border, where cross-border firing over the construction of a gate along the border led to the death of a Pakistani major.

The dynamics of Pak-Afghan relations are often seen shifting, dictated by leaders in power, national security concerns, and foreign policy linkages. While many attribute fickle relations between the two countries to their historical baggage, others cite Afghanistan’s swelling affair with India as a reason for its disengagement and Pakistan’s growing mistrust. Although Ghani’s appointment was seen by many as the calm after the storm that was Karzai, less than a year into his tenure he is found blasting Pakistan on international forums over its alleged ‘undeclared’ and covert war in Afghanistan.

Read Full Article: Catch-22: Pak-Afghan Relations