Afghanistan-Pakistan Bilateral Ties and Security Challenges in the Post Cold-War Era

Abstract

The study aims to find out existing and emerging socio-economic and geo-political relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the post-Cold War period. It analyzes how global incidents, including the War on Terror, the US exit from Afghanistan, and the continued terrorism across Pak-Afghan border have significantly bound the security of both countries. The significance of the contested Durand Line and the refugee issue are explored in detail, along with the consequences of Indian involvement in Afghanistan, which underlines the interconnectedness of the security threats in Pakistan. All states experience a mix of cooperation and conflict in their international relations, the ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been largely dominated by conflict, influenced significantly by the resurgence of the Taliban and the involvement of powerful external actors. Hence by applying RSCT, this study emphasizes the need for cooperative security, which means that in such regions collective approaches towards security; proper border control measures; and economic frameworks are desirable to counter common threats affecting regional security. The study is qualitative and depends on logical reasoning; secondary data and primary data have been consulted. The content analysis tool is used to interpret the data.