Foreign policies have direct impact on the fate of nations in addition to the domestic polices of governments. It is the foreign policy that determines a nation’s friends and enemies. Independent states adopt foreign policies in the light of their long-term national interests, and national interests are the primary determinant of their friends and foes. Countries that are unable to properly analyze long-term threats and interests while developing their foreign policies have little chance of success. In such circumstances, states often resort to short-term, emergency, and rash actions that cannot safeguard their interests. Afghanistan is unfortunately faced with a similar challenge in its foreign policy, especially with regard to its relations with neighboring countries. The problem is even more serious with Pakistan. Kabul’s relations with Islamabad are always full of ups and downs, sometimes becoming very friendly, but in times reaching rock bottom.
With a new Pakistani leadership in place, efforts have once again started to pick up steam to normalize Kabul-Islamabad ties after a relatively long period of frostiness. As part of the fresh push, Pakistan’s foreign minister paid his first foreign visit to Kabul, where he discussed peace and regional cooperation with Afghan officials, including President Ghani. The new fence-mending mission comes as no clear shift has been sensed in Islamabad’s policy towards Kabul. Pakistan continues to provide support and sanctuaries to anti-Afghan government militants.
Concurrent with the signs of a thaw in relations between Kabul and Islamabad come attempts to hurt Kabul’s relations with Tehran due to US sanctions. The more the ties between Afghanistan and its neighbors are strained, the limited the chance of survival of the current administration of Afghanistan becomes. As any nation in the world, Afghanistan needs to maintain relations with its neighbors, the basis of which should be the national interests only. The embattled Afghan government should not ruin its relations with neighboring nations at the behest of anyone. Afghanistan’s fate is intertwined with its neighbors, no matter how they are. It is in the interest of Afghan side to reach an understanding with the neighbors than turn hostile towards them, especially now as Kabul is grappling with major challenges.
What is wrong with Afghanistan-neighbors relations?
