Pakistan is the most hated neighbor among Afghan people for several reasons. An absolute majority of Afghans see Pakistan behind much of the problems currently facing Afghanistan, as the country has been openly supporting anti-Afghan government militants for almost half a century now. From rallying some Mujahedeen leaders against the government of President Sardar Daud Khan to harboring and supporting the Taliban, Islamabad’s behavior towards Kabul has sensitized Afghans to Pakistan to an extent that they now regard the intergovernmental deals between the two states with skepticism. And of course they are right to be doubtful, because with the repeated betrayal of promises by Islamabad, Afghan people have come around to the conclusion that Pakistan can never be trusted.
Pakistan’s duplicitous attitude has made its role in the settlement of Afghan conflict inevitable. Whenever there are talks for a peaceful end to the long-running conflict in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s role comes at the top of issues to consider. The history of relations beset by ups and downs has intertwined the fate of both nations. How much so ever Afghans detest Pakistan, Afghan governments will have to establish relations with Islamabad; thus, the door for diplomacy between the two countries should always remain open. However, it does not mean that Pakistan’s destructive role in Afghanistan should be overlooked or that the Pakistani side should be exonerated of its hostile behavior towards Afghanistan.
Friendly relations between Kabul and Islamabad benefit both nations as well as the rest of the region, but they should protect bilateral interests. If Pakistan is after its own self-interests and the Afghan side gets nothing in return, better to sever such ties than maintain because the philosophy to continue mutual ties is the mutual interests. Taking into account the sensitivity of the people of Afghanistan towards Pakistan, Afghan government needs to exercise utmost caution in dealing with Islamabad, and eschew a deal in conflict with the country’s best interests.