Pak-Afghan Relations during Hamid Karzai Era

Introduction

Being a neighbor, Pakistan gives paramount importance to its relations with Afghanistan as Pakistans
peace and stability depends on Afghan peace and stability. Traditionally, Pak-Afghan relationship has
been characterized by mutual mistrust and lack of confidence and third parties have always been a
decisive factor in determining the Pak-Afghan relations. Relations between the two countries have been
subject to various complexities over the past few decades, by issues related to the Durand Line, the 1978
present war (i.e. Mujahideen, Afghan refugees, Taliban insurgency and border skirmishes), including
water and the growing relations of India and Afghanistan.

The nature of relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan is very delicate. Deep-seated animosity and
suspicion has largely characterized the two countries' political relationship. The horrific acts of September
11, 2001 changed the world and Pakistan found itself between the devil and the deep sea. It marks a new
phase of the Pakistan foreign policy in general and Pakistans Afghanistan policy in particular. After the
disintegration of Taliban and surrender of Kabul, UN arranged meeting of selected Tribal chiefs in Bonn
(Germany) to decide upon Afghan interim government under Hamid Karazi with six months mandate
commencing from 22 December 2001. Pakistan supported the interim set up and Hamid Karzai paid an
official visit to Pakistan in February 2002 that renewed bilateral relations on friendly terms. Pakistan
offered all sort of moral, political and economic support to strengthen new government in Kabul under the
presidency of Mr Karazai.

President Karzai paid an official visit to Pakistan in February 2002 and after that on number of
occassions. Pakistan extended support to Afghanistan for the peaceful conduct of presidential and
parliamentary polls in October 2004 and September 2005 respectively. President Musharraf was the first
head of state to visit Afghanistan after the successful completion of Afghan presidential election.

In the post 9/11 era, the relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan took a new turn when Pakistan
became a front line state in the US-led war against terrorism, taking a U-turn on its Afghanistan policy. In
those years, the resurgence of the Taliban movement and the growing insurgency in the provinces
bordering the Pakistan-Afghan border once again created tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.
Afghanistan blamed Pakistan for fuelling the insurgency in Afghanistan in order to destabilize the
government of Hamid Karzai. In turn, Islamabad blamed Kabul for its alleged support to the Baloch
guerillas and the situation in Waziristan. Pakistan was also suspicious of the increasing rapport between
Kabul and New Delhi. Drug trafficking and the issue of refugees have also affected bilateral relations
between the two. Even against the backdrop of strained political relations, both Pakistan and Afghanistan
have increasingly attached importance to the economic component of their relationship. the agreements
was signed to enhance trade and economic interactions, increase in bilateral trade and Pakistan's active
participation in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan. Pakistan signed its last Afghan
Transit Trade (ATT) agreement in 1965 and the formation of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Economic
Commission (JEC) in 2002 has opened a new chapter in economic collaboration between the two
neighbors.

The civilian set-up in Islamabad managed to open new lines of communication with Kabul. The
democratic government in Pakistan remains committed to cooperation with Afghanistan and the coalition
forces to stabilize Afghanistan. While felicitating Prime Minister Gilani, President Karzai expressed
support for the elected government of Pakistan in its endeavours for regional peace and stability. He also
acknowledged Pakistan's support for reconstru efforts in Afghanistan and for extending hospitality to
Afghan refugees on its soil.

President Zardari paid a visit to Afghanistan on 6 January 2009, on the invitation of President Hamid
Karzai. The two leaders held two one-on one meetings and dwelt at length on the political and security
situation in the region. President Zardari and President Karzai took the changed relationship to a higher
plane when they committed themselves and their countries to full cooperation in the fight against
extremism and terrorism. They reiterated their resolve to improve relations between the countries and
work together for the betterment of their peoples. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral
relations at political, trade and cultural levels. Following the talks, President Karzai hailed what he termed
a 'new relationship' between the two neighbouring countries. The Pakistani and Afghan foreign ministers
also signed a joint declaration on directions of bilateral cooperation, calling for a 'new visionary chapter'
in relations between the two countries.

Hypothesis
Pakistan and Afghanistan are neighbors lacking mutual trust and since inception of Pakistan. Both are
facing external and internal factors that dismantled peace in the countries and region as well. In Hamid
Karzai Era Pak-Afghan relations were sound on economical front but diplomatic issues could not be
resolved despite of efforts. Even blames upon each other was witnessed instead of deep cooperation that
resulted in trusted deficit. What were the strategies adopted on foreign policy front by neighboring states
and its repercussion on region. How far Karzai remain successful in rebuilding peace in the region and
Afghanistan.

Objective

Objective of the research is to analyze the relations of both neighboring countries under President Hamid
Karzai leadership and military as well as civilian rule in Pakistan. Research will highlight the areas that
have been strengthened during this era and what were the complexities faced by both countries under this
administration. Major irritants that transformed the initially warm relations into a hostile situation of
blame game will also be discussed. After the irritants causing worsening of relations during karzai
government are identified then the research will offers some lessons for policy makers to address those
irritants in future and suggest a strategy to bring both of the neighbors at friendly terms.

Research Questions

1. How far Pak-Afghan bilateral relations remained smooth and peaceful during initial period of
Hamid Karzai Era?
2. What were the issues and irritants that flared up relations between neighboring countries after a
couple of years under Hamid Karzai leadership?
3. What are repercussions of Pak-Afghan relations on the region under Karzai leadership?
4. How far Karzai leadership rejuvenated Afghanistan and how far it remained successful in
rebuilding peace?
5. Though both neighboring countries blamed each other yet refugees were provided shelter, its
repercussions on both countries and region as well?
Research Methodology

It will be a qualitative research in which books, journals, articles will be consulted from library in order to
see the nature of relationship during Hamid Karzai era and its implications on both countries as well as on
Region.

Literature Review.

1. Neither a Hawk nor a Dove by Khursheed Mahmood Kasuri.

The author is a former foreign Minister and an eminent Pakistani politician with a rich socio-cultural
background. He discussed Pak-Afghan relations during karzai regime in details. He noticed that initially
there was an atmosphere of cooperation but with the passage of time all the warmth was replaced by
suspicion and animosity. He noticed that Pakistans image had taken a further beating because
Government and media in that country blamed Pakistan for all terrorist acts. Afghanistan was assured by
the author that Pakistan will not allow its territory to be used for launching terrorist activities. But
allegations continued; that the Taliban were doing their planning in Quetta; Musharraf was pursuing a
policy of double dealing; that Pakistan was planning to have strategic depth to be used in case of a
future war with India. Kasuri pointed out that Pakistan did not need strategic depth in geographical terms
because Baluchistan provided that depth to Pakistan. That Pakistan was deeply concerned due to growing
Indian footprint in Afghanistan including a pledge of investing $2 billion and regarding the activities of
Indian Consulates adjacent to Pakistani territories where they had no economic interests. Musharraf also
gave Karzai an intelligence report saying that Afghanistan was trying to stir trouble in Pakistan.

2. Pakistan Afghanistan relations in the post-9/11 era: Carnegie papers by Frdric

Grare.

Author starts with the background of Afghanistan-Pakistan relations since 1947 and focuses more on
post-9/11 relations. Relations between the two countries have never been easy. Despite the support given
by Pakistan during the jihad against the Soviet Union, suspicion runs deep in the minds of leaders of both
countries. After 9/11 , Pakistan was once again caught in a dilemma. It could not satisfy Afghan claims
and yet was officially a key ally in the war on terror that motivated the U.S. intervention in Afghanistan
and the overthrow of the Taliban government. This dilemma created a major and permanent tension in
Islamabads foreign policy particularly during Karzai regime.

Significance

The research study will highlight a detailed phase of Pak-Afghan relations during Hamid Karzai Era. It
will also focus on the decisions taken by both the countries with regard to formulation of foreign policy
towards each other and for establishment and maintainance of Peace in the region.

Bibliography

1. Mohib Ullah Durani, Ashraf Khan, Pakistan - Afghan Relations: Historic Mirror

2. Barnett R. Rubin,Afghanistan from the Cold War through the War on Terror

3. Khurshid Hasan, Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations Vol. 2, No. 7 (Sep., 1962), pp. 14-24, Asian
Survey.

4. Razia Sultana, Pakistan-Afghan Economic Relations: Issues and ProspectsVol. 64, No. 1
(January 2011), pp. 21-37 ,Pakistan Institute of International Affair.

5. Neither a Hawk Nor a Dove: An Insider's Account of Pakistan's Foreign Relations by Khurshid
Mahmud Kasuri.

6. Abdul Sattar, Pakistans Foreign Policy 1947-2012: A Concise History

7. Amin Saikal, A. G. Ravan Farhadi, Kirill Nourzhanov, Modern Afghanistan: A History of

Struggle and Survival