The recent remarks by Pakistan’s defense minister in his country’s National Assembly have lifted an important veil from the dark realities of the past several decades in the region. When a senior Pakistani official openly admits that his country acted as a hired force in Afghanistan to serve Western interests—and that these policies continue to be repeated—it is not merely a political statement. It is a formal acknowledgment of the suffering and sacrifices of millions of Afghans whose lives, homeland, and future were damaged as a result of these strategies.
For decades, Afghanistan has been turned into an میدان of external rivalries, but Pakistan’s role in this prolonged tragedy has been particularly deep and consequential. Pakistani intelligence and military policies consistently sought to use Afghanistan as a sphere of strategic influence and to wage proxy conflicts there in pursuit of international approval and advantage. The defense minister’s admission demonstrates that these policies not only harmed Afghanistan but also backfired on Pakistan itself, contributing to insecurity, extremism, and serious internal challenges.
The statement that Pakistan has yet to fully acknowledge its historical mistakes is, in essence, a serious critique of its own political and military establishment. It underscores that the roots of regional instability lie not only within Afghanistan but also in policies designed and implemented from Islamabad. When a state adopts a strategy of interference, proxy warfare, and manipulation in a neighboring country, it is inevitable that the flames of that conflict will eventually spread back across its own borders.
Throughout its history, Afghanistan has defended its independence, sovereignty, and national dignity. The Afghan people have stood firm against external pressure and interference, paying a heavy price in the process. These recent remarks reinforce a position Afghans have long maintained: that the country’s prolonged crisis was not purely internal but was significantly shaped by regional interventions. This admission should also serve as a clear message to the international community that preventing external interference is essential for Afghanistan’s long-term stability.
At the same time, this moment represents a historic opportunity for Pakistan to undertake a genuine reassessment of its past policies. Verbal acknowledgment alone is not enough; meaningful change requires concrete action. If Pakistan sincerely wishes to free itself from extremism, terrorism, and chronic instability, it must decisively abandon interference in Afghanistan and build a new relationship based on mutual respect, good-neighborliness, and economic cooperation. The continuation of proxy strategies will benefit neither Afghanistan nor Pakistan.
Despite its challenges, Afghanistan still holds significant potential as a bridge for regional connectivity, trade, and shared development. Countries in the region—especially Pakistan—can choose cooperation over rivalry. However, such a shift is only possible if the lessons of past decades are taken seriously and Afghanistan’s sovereignty is fully respected. Afghans no longer wish to remain victims of geopolitical games played by others.
The defense minister’s admission should mark the beginning of a new phase, not remain a passing political remark. The international community, regional organizations, and both countries should seize this opportunity to advance practical steps toward confidence-building, transparent relations, and shared security. Afghanistan has an undeniable right to peace, stability, and progress, and this right must not be sacrificed to any nation’s strategic calculations.
In conclusion, these remarks once again confirm that complex regional politics lay behind Afghanistan’s long war. The Afghan people, as the primary victims of these conflicts, deserve to witness genuine cooperation and respect from their neighbors. If Pakistan truly seeks reform, its first essential step must be to regard Afghanistan as a sovereign and equal partner. Only then can the region move beyond its bitter past toward a future of peace and shared prosperity.
