Failure of Afghan policy

Pakistan’s Afghan strategy, once guided by the illusion of achieving strategic depth through Taliban patronage, has now unraveled into a full-fledged diplomatic disaster. For decades, the Pakistani establishment clung to the belief that supporting a Taliban-led Afghanistan would counterbalance Indian influence and ensure a friendly western frontier. However, the ground realities have shifted. The Taliban, driven by nationalist motives rather than ideological loyalty, have refused to rein in the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which continues to wage war against the Pakistani state from across the border. This betrayal exposes the hollowness of Islamabad’s assumptions and the dangerous consequences of conflating ideology with national interest.

In a misguided attempt to assert control, Pakistan has adopted harsh measures such as the mass deportation of Afghan refugees and strict border policies, which have only further inflamed anti-Pakistan sentiments. Meanwhile, the Taliban have remained diplomatically silent on Kashmir and are increasingly engaging with India, signaling a realignment in the regional power matrix. This article calls for a complete overhaul of Pakistan’s Afghan policy. It advocates for abandoning outdated strategic fantasies and embracing a foreign policy rooted in pragmatism, regional cooperation, and economic diplomacy. Without this shift, Pakistan risks continued isolation and strategic irrelevance.

Overview:

The article provides a sharp critique of Pakistan’s outdated and counterproductive Afghan policy. It explains how flawed assumptions and ideological bias have led to strategic setbacks, particularly with the Taliban’s growing ties to India and indifference toward Pakistan’s security concerns. It underscores the urgency of redefining foreign policy through realism and regional cooperation.

NOTES:

This article is essential for understanding the interplay between ideology and foreign policy in the context of Pakistan’s regional strategy. It directly relates to topics such as non-state actors, regional instability, Pakistan-Afghan relations, and the security implications of strategic depth. The rise of the TTP, Pakistan’s refugee repatriation policy, and diplomatic isolation are real-time illustrations of theoretical concepts taught in International Relations, such as realism and blowback. The piece of writing  also touches on themes relevant to Governance and Public Policy, such as policy miscalculation and its fallout. For aspirants, it provides a concrete case study of how poor strategic choices lead to long-term diplomatic consequences.

Relevance to CSS syllabus or subject:

• International Relations: Strategic depth, Realism vs Idealism, Foreign policy behavior
• Pakistan Affairs: Border relations, TTP activities, Refugee crisis
• Current Affairs: Taliban-India relations, Pakistan’s diplomatic stance
• Governance and Public Policy: Strategic decision-making, Policy failure and readjustment

Notes for Beginners:

Pakistan historically supported the Taliban to ensure that Afghanistan remained friendly and didn’t side with India. This was called gaining “strategic depth.” But the Taliban are not behaving like Pakistan’s allies anymore. They protect TTP members who attack Pakistan, refuse to help on Kashmir, and are now talking to India. Pakistan has also expelled Afghan refugees to pressure the Taliban, but this made the Afghan public angry. So instead of controlling the region, Pakistan is becoming isolated. This shows that relying only on old beliefs without adjusting to new realities can be harmful. A better approach would be to build ties through trade, cooperation, and dialogue.

Facts and Figures:

• In 2023, terrorist attacks in Pakistan increased by over 70 percent, with many attributed to the TTP operating from Afghan territory
• Pakistan expelled more than 1.7 million undocumented Afghan refugees by the end of 2023
• Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, they have made no official statements supporting Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir
• India has re-established diplomatic contacts with the Taliban, indicating a shift in regional alliances

The Taliban have repeatedly resisted Pakistan’s efforts to fence the Durand Line, challenging the border’s legitimacy

To sum up, This article is a striking exposé of how rigid, ideology-driven foreign policies can lead a nation into strategic isolation. It warns that clinging to outdated assumptions will only deepen Pakistan’s regional vulnerabilities. It’s a call to rethink foreign policy in light of emerging regional realities. Pragmatism, not paranoia, must define Pakistan’s future approach to Afghanistan and beyond.