Pakistan and Afghanistan

A Study of 2018 Manifestos of Pakistan’s Political1

P
akistan-Afghanistan relations have many
overlapping dimensions. The high and low in
the relation effects every field of life in the
wake of historical, geographical and cultural and
religious linkages as well as economic interests. The
developments in the political and strategic arena in the
last few decades have made Afghanistan a key focus
of regional and world politics. As part, as well as a
consequence of these developments the US and
NATO forces are present in the country for last
seventeen years.2 Meanwhile, other regional players
have are also active in Afghanistan.3
On the other hand, resistance against the external
forces is persistent without a break.4 Adding to the
complexities is the growing presence and influence of
Daesh in the last couple of years.5 Recently, Afghan
government offered talks with Taliban without any
precondition, which was turned down by Taliban,
vowing to talk with the real player, the US.6 Lately,
the US, has also indicated that it is prepared to talk
directly with Taliban. Despite these developments,
there is little hope regarding peace in the near future
in Afghanistan. Afghan state doesn’t have control
over a large territory, Taliban have parallel setups in a
number of provinces. Members of the National Unity
Government itself are at horns with one another on
several issues, worsening the already poor
governance.7
Pakistan is affected directly, or indirectly by the
situation in Afghanistan. Along with a host of other

1
This brief is part of a larger study being conducted at IPS to understand the national mood in light of the approach of various
Political Parties, participating in the elections 2018, on subjects of important issues related to the National Agenda.
2
Natasha Bertrand and Daniel Brown PM, “Here's how the longest war in US history has unfolded”, Business Insider, Aug.
22, 2017, https://www.businessinsider.com/heres-how-the-longest-war-in-us-history-has-unfolded-2017-8
3
James Griffiths, “Who are the key players in Afghanistan?, CNN, September 19, 2017
https://edition.cnn.com/2017/08/26/asia/afghanistan-pakistan-india-china-russia-us/index.html
4
Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction in its latest report published in April said that, there were 59
districts under insurgent control (13) or influence (46), an increase of one district under insurgent influence since last quarter.
119 districts (29.2%) are contested—controlled by neither the Afghan government nor
the insurgency. https://www.sigar.mil/pdf/quarterlyreports/2018-04-30qr.pdf
5
“Is ISIS gaining ‘serious’ ground in Afghanistan? Russia says yes. The US says no.”,
https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2018/03/29/is-isis-gaining-serious-ground-in-afghanistan-russia-says-yes-the-
us-says-no/
6
Hamid Shalizai, James Mackenzie, “Afghanistan's Ghani offers talks with Taliban 'without preconditions'”, Reuters,
February 28, 2018. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-taliban/afghanistans-ghani-offers-talks-with-taliban-
without-preconditions-idUSKCN1GC0J0
7
First Vice President last week arrived in Kabul, after one year exile in Turkey. CEO Abdullah Abdullah and President
Ashraf Ghani are at horn on the issue of Identity cards and several other issues. Read an instance,
https://thediplomat.com/2017/10/a-house-divided-how-afghanistans-national-unity-government-is-crumbling/

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security and political issues refugees living in Pakistan
is one of the manifestations of this phenomenon.
According to UNHCR Pakistan is currently home to
1.38 million registered Afghan refugees.8 The
repatriation of these refugees has remained a tough, if
not impossible job, both for Pakistan and international
humanitarian organizations. There are border
management issues as well.9 The opportunity
provided for people to people movement is also
availed by the militants as well as drug peddlers. Both
countries allege each other for intervention and
violence and interference in each other’s countries.
Afghan transit trade is another important subject of the
relations between the two countries.
In this overall context, Pakistan’s Afghan policy
should enjoy an extremely crucial and important
subject in any debate about future thinking of political
parties aspiring for representation in the parliament or
form a government. Looking into the electoral
manifestos of the major political parties, we find that
not much space has been given to the subject as a
specific focus. In some cases, the subject has been
discussed indirectly in the context of the overall
approach and emphasis related to Foreign policy or
Security issues. A brief description of the manifestos
depicts the following:
▪ PMLN has stressed that “Peace and security
in Afghanistan is intertwined with peace and
security in Pakistan”. (PMLN Manifesto
p.63). Likewise, PPP has maintained that its
multi-ethnic approach to Afghanistan will
continue (p.26), and that PPP will not support
a specific faction or group in the country.
Instead, will shore up people-to-people
relation with the country.
▪ Both PPP and PML-N have specifically
supported Afghan-led and Afghan-owned
peace process, while other parties haven’t
mentioned it directly. An honorable
repatriation of Afghan refugees is also
mentioned in PPP manifesto, “PPP will work
with Kabul to ensure the dignified repatriation
of Afghan refugees”. The repatriation of
refugees is also mentioned in BNP-Mengal
manifesto).
8
http://www.unhcr.org/pakistan.html
9
Ayaz Gul, “Pakistan: Fencing of Border with Afghanistan on 'Fast Track'”, VOA, April 19, 2018.
,https://www.voanews.com/a/pakistan-fencing-of-border-with-afghanistan-on-fast-track-despite-clashes-
challenges/4355818.html
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▪ PPP has mentioned in the border management
context that the “growing influence of IS in
Eastern Afghanistan poses a potent threat to
Pakistan, and the border will be better policed
and patrolled”. (PPP Manifesto p. 57)
▪ On trade and economy, the PPP has proposed
to establish Pak-Afghan Reconstruction
Opportunity Zones, including the
revitalization of TAPI project. MQM has
pledged to stop the abuse of Afghan Transit
Trade. In PML-N manifesto, better
management of Afghan Transit Trade and
regional economic integration is promised.
Can we say that the political parties have
generally ignored Afghanistan in their
manifestos?
Apparently, it is so. The reason may be the
stalemate that is prevailing since so many years
and therefore the general view that there are very
little chances of a breakthrough in near future in
Afghanistan; thus, the existing policy will
continue to be carried out. Another reason could
be the background of civil-military relations in
Pakistan and the perception that the civil
government has little say in finalizing such
subjects. ANP has however pledged to give
special attention to the relations with Afghanistan,
and enhance cooperation in educational, cultural
and economic fields. It has also stressed that
bilateral relations shall be conducted strictly on
the basis of sovereign equality and non-
interference in each other’s internal affairs. (ANP
Manifesto p.26)
PPP has also specifically shed light on the
relation with Afghanistan along with other major
partners in International Relations and
neighboring countries, under the heading of
“Negotiating the changing Global Order”. Before
discussing Afghanistan, it has stated that PPP will
not allow use of the country’s soil for military
bases. It declared that PPP will not enter into
agreements that erode Pakistan’s authority. (p.57).
PPP on Afghanistan has stressed that their stance
of not supporting any specific group, faction or
tribe is consistent and will be so. It has pointed out
that “greater political, military, and intelligence
cooperation with Kabul is essential to stem the
flow of old and new transcendental challenges
including militant spillover, the regional
emergence of Daesh, drugs and arms”. The
manifesto says that we believe that Pakistan can
play a greater role by building a strong and
sustainable partnership for socio-economic
rebuilding and development of Afghanistan.
(P.58)
Apart from ANP and PPP, PTI, MQM and MMA
haven’t specifically discussed Afghanistan in
their manifestos except an emphasis in foreign
policy part in the general expression of ‘better
relations with neighbors, and dispute resolution
through dialogue’. Both these points are
obviously though indirectly are related to
Afghanistan as well.
It can be said that peace in Afghanistan is as
important for Pakistan as it is for Afghanistan itself.
Looking at the past experience its necessary to remind
that a well-coordinated policy that has the support of
the nation ensures the most productive outcomes.
Seen from this perspective it is encouraging that the
political parties’ manifesto mentioned above don’t
have any fundamental difference of approach on the
issue. It provides an opportunity for the upcoming
government that while maintaining and strengthening
it should take imitative and draw a well-coordinated
policy. However, it should be kept in view that the
international players are active in Afghanistan for
their own sets of goals and policies. On the other hand
international mafias related to drugs and arms
smuggling are also playing a role in intensifying the
already multi-layered conflict. Therefore, any policy
made should not only focus the bilateral aspects of the
relations but also take into account the larger picture.

Prepared by:
Bakht Noor
Trainee Research Coordinator
Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad.

For queries:
Syed Nadeem Farhat
Senior Research Coordinator
nadeem@ips.net.pk | www.ips.org.pk

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