Resurgence of Taliban in Afghanistan: Implications for Pakistan Foreign Policy

Abstract

This study analyses the historical, conflictual and re-insurgence status of Taliban and Pakistan’s foreign policy towards Afghanistan. Throughout history, Afghanistan has both gained and suffered because of her strategic location. For this reason, regional and major world powers wanted to control, neutralize rival plans, or claim their own influence over the country. Over the last three decades, foreign interventions have played a critical role in transforming Afghan society and integrating it into global politics. This study is qualitative in nature. Sharing cultural, ethnic and religious ties, Pakistan and Afghanistan relations have always been close, yet conflicts over the Durand line, the Soviet Afghan war, Pakistan’s support to the Taliban regime, the role of Pakistan in the War on Terror and the growing cross-border militancy has strained relations between the two countries. Afghans deserve a future far better than their experiences of the past years. One can only way that high level of officials engaged directly rather than solely to maintain relations and to achieve national interest on both sides. Include influential pashtoon representation, plan to manage controversy and disputes, acknowledge core issues, focus bilateral topics, regularize military to military engagement, single good faith through domestic polices, cooperate on post conflict reconstruction, build momentum through confidence –building measures like trade, people to people exchange, investment.