Peace and stability in Afghanistan are in the interest of regional countries more than the West so the best choice for them to opt for is to support the ongoing peace efforts. If terrorist activities and violence continue in Afghanistan, the negative spillover effects will certainly hurt the regional states, too. Even if they manage to prevent the violence from making inroads into their borders for a while, but the “flames of the fire” will eventually reach them. If that doesn’t happen, the instability in Afghanistan can deprive the entire region of the enormous opportunities available for economic growth and prosperity.
There are indications that Pakistan is manipulating the opportunity provided by US President Donald Trump’s plea to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan for help with Afghan peace process. Americans have reportedly asked Pakistan to persuade the Taliban to accept US military bases in Afghanistan, something Islamabad sees as a golden opportunity to try to secure huge concessions from the US. One of the biggest demands of Islamabad may be asking for the recognition of the Durand Line by Afghanistan. Others topics on the table may include the issue of water and Indian influence in Afghanistan.
Islamabad’s persistence on such unrealistic demands may scuttle the ongoing peace talks, the result of which will be the protraction of war in Afghanistan. Pakistan may benefit from the continuation of war in Afghanistan in the short run, but it will backfire on it in the long run. When instability continues in Afghanistan, all the mega economic projects Pakistan seriously needs to prop up and boost its faltering economy cannot be executed. Thus, by fueling violence and instability in Afghanistan, Islamabad is in a way depriving its own people of having a prosperous life.
All regional states, including Pakistan, that are affected by the war and instability in Afghanistan more than any other nations in the world should utilize the opportunity made available to bring Afghan conflict to a negotiated end. They should avoid actions that the West, especially the United States, will use as a pretext to prolong its military presence in the region. Through a rational analysis of the common opportunities and threats in the region, they should make decisions that contribute to regional stability rather than fuel violence.
