By S.M. Inam
The continued suspension of bilateral trade with Afghanistan at key border crossings, as confirmed by the Foreign Office, presents a difficult but necessary calculus. While the economic disruption is undeniable, the prioritization of civilian life in the face of imminent security threats is a sovereign responsibility that cannot be abdicated. This decision, born from the stark realities of the previous week’s security situation, underscores a persistent volatility that continues to hamper the region’s potential.
This context of caution inevitably extends to broader diplomatic considerations. The official stance that India’s reopening of its diplomatic mission in Afghanistan is a bilateral matter is technically correct, adhering to the formal protocols of international relations. Yet, to ignore the historical precedent is to ignore the elephant in the room. The two decades from 2001 to 2021 saw Afghan soil used as a staging ground for activities aimed at destabilizing Pakistan, orchestrated by Indian intelligence operatives often operating under diplomatic cover. Recent allegations from countries like Canada and the United States concerning the illicit activities of Indian officials abroad only serve to validate these deep-seated and legitimate anxieties. The question is not one of sovereign right, but of sober precedent: what assurance exists that a renewed presence will not resurrect a past pattern of behavior that brought immense suffering to this region?
Pakistan’s support for Afghanistan, particularly through the most challenging transitions, has been a consistent feature of its policy. The implicit message to the Taliban administration is one of sober interdependence. A stable Afghanistan is in everyone’s interest, but that stability cannot be achieved in a vacuum. It requires a partnership with Pakistan, one built on transparency and mutual security interests. Should this support be withdrawn, the Taliban government would face profound isolation and intensified internal challenges?
It is within this framework that the recent suggestions from the Afghan foreign minister regarding trade with India via the Wagah border appear curiously detached from geopolitical reality. The Wagah crossing is not a neutral, international zone; it is a Pakistan-India border post. Its use for Afghanistan-India trade is not an automatic right but a privilege contingent on Pakistani consent, a fact seemingly overlooked in Kabul. Even air corridors would require navigation through Pakistani airspace. This underscores a fundamental truth: the path to Afghanistan’s economic integration and political recognition runs directly through cooperative and good-faith relations with Islamabad.
The choice for the Afghan government is stark. It can pursue a foreign policy that acknowledges Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns and its pivotal role as a geographic gateway, thereby unlocking possibilities for regional stability. Or, it can cling to proposals that are logistically unworkable without Pakistan’s cooperation, ensuring that the prospects for peace and development in Afghanistan remain bleak. The ball, as they say, is firmly in Kabul’s court. Prudence and partnership must prevail over posturing.
(The writer is a former government officer and a senior analyst on national and international affairs, can be reached at inam@metro-morning.com)
