Pakistan’s Role in the Reconstruction of Afghanistan in The Post-Cold War Era

Abstract

Pakistan because of it's shared ethnicity and longest porous border with Afghanistan cannot remain unaffected by the events taking place across the Durand Line. Congnizant to this fact Pakistan has been taking keen interest in the socio-economic and political developments of Afghanistan since the past few decades. Following a realist approach Pakistan wants peace and socio-political stability in Afghanistan because an unstable Afghanistan is direct threat to its own stability and political integrity. The increasing involvement of Pakistan in Afghanistan affairs at the post cold war era has become a debatable issue. The present study primarily aims to critically analyses those issues which on the one hand urge Pakistan to play it's role in the socio-economic and political reconstruction of Afghanistan but on the other hand hampers the realization of it's contribution. The study at hand revolved around a central argument that like the rest of donors countries Pakistan post-cold war policies towards Afghanistan are guided by it's realistic approach. Reconstruction of Afghanistan is complex process. Soon after dismantling of Taliban, US diverted its military and economic resources towards Iraq and provided a breathing space to Taliban. Pakistan, as a close neighbor, certainly cannot afford a resurgence of instability, violence and terrorism on its western border. Last but not the least, success in reconstruction means meeting goals, not fulfilling pledges or being generous. The overriding goal is enabling Afghans to build a country that contributes to, rather than threatens, their own and global security. Failure by the Pakistan and other major states to respond will doom Afghanistan, the region and the world to repetition of anarchy that gave birth to Taliban and refuge to Al- Qaeda