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.
US Embassy’s List of Afghan Individuals Poses Repatriation Hurdle Amidst Pakistan-US Relations
A significant obstacle has emerged in the repatriation of Afghan individuals, and it is not solely a matter concerning Afghanistan’s Interim Government or the Afghans themselves; rather, it is a chronic issue rooted in Pakistan-US relations. The US Embassy in Islamabad has presented a list of 25,000 Afghans, along with individuals from other countries, to the Pakistan Government, requesting a halt to their deportation.
These individuals, former employees on the US payroll during the occupation of Afghanistan, served as agents, informers, and translators. Originally intended to be settled in the US or Europe, their relocation got delayed due to resistance from their respective governments. The US, under a changed policy, deliberately kept these individuals in Pakistan, with the PDM government consenting during their tenure as an obligation for regime change.
