Afghanistan’s future hinges on Pakistan ties, western aid: reports

In this report, the Washington-based Institute of Peace (USIP) reminded the United States and its allies that humanitarian assistance could not prevent economic collapse in Afghanistan.

The USIP released two reports this week as part of a greater report summarizing studies conducted during 2021 in Afghanistan and other problems.

Elizabeth Threlkeld, the author, believes that the assistance provided by the United States and partner countries to the Afghan government will now form the future of the country.

According to him, the level of Taliban support receives from external sources, especially Pakistan, will also be a determining factor in determining Afghanistan’s future.

Based on interviews with Afghan and Pakistani experts, one of the reports identified the main driver of conflict and relations between the two countries while explaining how bilateral relations could affect future results in Afghanistan.

This report shows that in the current state, “Positive relations with Pakistan can be far in fostering stability and development”. However, the report warned that “the opposite is a much more referral result, given the complaints in depth on both parties”.

By overcoming security issues and sovereignty of each other through dialogue, “Afghanistan and Pakistan accommodate the best opportunities to build their cross-border bonds for the interests of the regional stability and the welfare of their citizens”, the author argues.

One of the main problems was the dispute over the Durand line, which caused clashes between the Pakistani and Taliban border guards this week. Pakistan wants Afghanistan to recognize the line as the international border while the Taliban, such as the previous Afghan government, does not want to do it.

The report claims that the relationship between the two countries will continue to be formed by tensions that have characterized it for more than a century. Five repeated drivers of these tensions, according to the report, are: concerns of sovereignty, security interests, geopolitical dynamics, cross-border bonds, and connectivity and trade.