South Asia is once again in the news as Pakistan and Afghanistan are about to go to war. Notably, both countries have already launched strikes on each other, killing a significant number of people on both sides. However, the question is why the two countries, which were considered major allies in the region, became enemies.
Main Reason Why Pakistan and Afghanistan are at War
The trigger point of the war between Pakistan and Afghanistan is the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is also known as the Pakistani Taliban. It is known for causing terrorist attacks inside Pakistan. The most recent case is of the suicide bombing in Islamabad, killing 36 people.
Pakistan claims that Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan is able to create chaos in the country due to the Afghan Taliban’s support. They argue that Afghanistan is providing a safe haven for this militant group, allowing them to attack Pakistan from Afghan soil.
However, the Taliban government denies these allegations and calls it Pakistan’s problem.
Despite rejecting the claims of their involvement, experts highlight that the two (TTP and Afghan Taliban) share a deep ideological bond, and they even fought the U.S. forces for nearly two decades, which is why it is alleged that the Afghan Taliban cannot crack down on the other group.
These trigger points are creating an open war situation between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The Durand Line Conflict
Another reason behind this war is the dispute over the Durand Line. It is a 2,640 km (1,640 mile) border established by the British in 1893, which Pakistan recognized as the official international border with its neighbors. However, Afghanistan, the neighbor, doesn’t formally recognize it, arguing that it is a colonial imposition that split the Pashtun ethnic heartland in two.
Reportedly, Pakistan is building a massive fence along the line to control the militant movement, but the Taliban frequently tears it down, fueling the current conflict.
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Economic and Political Reasons
In an attempt to deport undocumented people within the country, Pakistan has recently moved millions of Afghans. Pakistan argues that the move was needed due to security concerns, but the Taliban calls it inhumane and a form of political blackmail.
Additionally, Afghanistan significantly depends on Pakistan for trade routes to the sea. It has been reported that Pakistan often shuts down border crossings like Torkham and Chaman during the tensions, causing losses to Afghans.
Were Pakistan and Afghanistan Always on Bad Terms?
Despite the recent strikes, there was a time when Pakistan and Afghanistan were allies. However, it is important to note that they were more of “frenemies” for decades rather than consistent allies, as the Afghan government under Karzai and Ghani was reported to be hostile to Pakistan.
Notably, Pakistan contributed significantly to the creation of the Afghan Taliban in the early 1990s. According to the New York Times reports, Pakistan hid the Taliban leaders in their country during the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan.
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In the 20-year American-led war in Afghanistan, U.S. officials asked Pakistan to stop the Afghan Taliban from crossing its border.
“You can’t keep snakes in your backyard and expect them only to bite your neighbors,” Hillary Clinton, then the U.S. secretary of state, told Pakistani government officials in 2011.
The two Muslim countries remained allies for some time before the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021. Although Pakistan celebrated the win, soon it became a problem for them as the Pakistan Taliban gained more power, disturbing the relationship between the two countries.