Pakistan has recently taken a strong stance against its northwestern neighbor by ordering the expulsion of illegal Afghanis who have been residing in Pakistan for over 40 years. Despite this move, the interim government faces criticism, with concerns raised about the potential negative outcomes for the country. Some argue that if Afghanistan maintains good relations with other neighbors, India, Middle Eastern Muslim countries, and other Muslim nations, the strained relationship with Pakistan must be due to faulty policies on the part of Islamabad.
Historically, Afghan rulers propagated the idea that regions like NWFP, FATA, and Pashtun-heavy parts of Baluchistan were part of Afghanistan. Some political and religious parties in Pakistan, as well as India, supported the Pakhtunistan movement. This hostility led to waves of Baloch insurgents seeking independence finding refuge in Kabul, with insurgencies actively supported.
Pakistan, desiring peaceful coexistence and following a policy of appeasement to keep its western border calm, never made territorial claims or instigated unrest in Afghanistan. However, during the Afghan Jihad in the 1980s, Afghan Pashtuns developed closeness with Pakistan, while non-Pashtun Afghans leaned towards Iran and India. The 20 years of the war on terror intensified animosity, with India exploiting the situation to foster deep-rooted hatred among Afghan Pashtuns against Pakistan.
RAW used subversion and indoctrination, similar to strategies employed in former East Pakistan, interior Sindh, interior Baluchistan, and KP/FATA. Iran fueled sectarianism to increase its influence in western and central Afghanistan. The wars in Afghanistan solidified the bond between Afghan and Pakistani Pashtuns, creating a nexus between TTA and the anti-Pakistan TTP.
Despite hosting millions of Afghan refugees since 1979, Pakistan’s bold stance supporting the Mujahideen’s covert war against the USSR, and facilitating the Taliban’s regroupment, Kabul seems to have forgotten Pakistan’s contributions. India, initially siding with the Soviets, later played a significant role in destabilizing the region by supporting the TTP and promoting movements like Greater Baluchistan and Greater Pashtunistan.
India’s objectives included isolating Pakistan, denuclearizing it, straining regional relations, undermining Gwadar, connecting Chahbahar with Afghanistan and Central Asia, and posing a military threat to Pakistan. Even after the exit of western forces and RAW, Pakistan’s western border remains insecure due to the availability of sophisticated weapons left behind, external funding, safe havens in Afghanistan, and the role of refugees and handlers.
To enhance the security of its western border, Pakistan needs to move beyond a one-sided appeasement policy. Concrete steps, such as the expulsion of illegal Afghan residents and curbing smuggling, mark a positive beginning. Strengthening border management and control systems is imperative for a more secure future.
