Pakistan and Afghanistan

 

  Pakistan and Afghanistan

 Afghanistan which was under the influence of Russia and it had been unfriendly with Pakistan from the very beginning. Afghanistan was the only country which opposed Pakistan’s membership in the UNO (UNITED NATIONS ORGANISZATION) in 1947. The pakhtunistan issue was urged by USSR which had approval from some pathan leaders on the both sides. Afghanistan had no sea access being a landlocked country and it asked for transit facilities through Pakistan. Pakistan took assurance that it would be only possible if Afghanistan withdraw its stance over its Pakhtonistan claim. On this Afghanistan signed a transit agreement with USSR consequently allowing its influence there. It was disappointing when Afghanistan showed its hostility and voting against Pakistan entry to UNO in 1947. This factor had poisoned the relations between the two countries for a long time. Inspite of this Pakistan had been trying to establish the good relations. Iskander Mirza in 1956 and later Ayub khan visited Kabul for this purpose.

Diplomatic relations however were established in 1948 and both appointed their ambassadors. Twice the diplomatic relations were broken in 1955 and 1961 when Pakistan embassy in Kabul was attacked. Relations were later resumed. Situation improved somewhat after the Iskander Mirza's visit to Afghanistan in 1956 Afghanistan remained neutral during 1965 and 1961 conflicts with India. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and King Zahir Shah exchanged Prime Minister visits but Afghanistan remained unfriendly with Pakistan.

In 1979 Russian forces invaded Afghanistan. The Afghan government was pro-Russia but the people of Afghanistan rose up against Russian aggression. After Soviet Union’s invasion in 1979, Pakistan played a vital role in supporting the Afghan resistance movement. Pakistan fully supported the Afghan Mujaheddins with arms, supplies and training. Pakistan also accommodated more than three million Afghan refugees on humanitarian basis. During this period Afghanistan violated Pakistan's air space many times and bombed Pakistani areas.

 Pakistan had to pay heavy price for this with increase in drug trafficking, smuggling of foreign goods, proliferation of arms and terrorism in the country which had greatly harmed Pakistan after accommodating large number of Afghanis in Pakistan areas. Pakistan also signed (Geneva Accord in 1988) after which soviet troops vacated Afghanistan. Trade agreements were signed many times and Pakistan allowed trade goods to pass through its territory.

During the 1st term of Nawaz Sharif government, internal strife continued in Afghanistan. In January 1992, the UN peace plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan supported it. In April 1992 six central Asian Muslim states and Afghanistan joined the newly formed ECO (Economic Cooperation organization) formally RCD (Regional Cooperation of Development) of Pakistan, Iran and Turkey. In May 1992, Afghan President visited Pakistan to end of 1992 signed (MOU) Memorandum of understanding was made between Pakistan and Afghanistan to strengthen ties in trade, culture, science and technology. In March 1993, Islamabad Accord an agreement of roads, rail network and pipeline project was signed.

During the 2nd tenure of Benazir Bhutto (1993-1996) Pakistan supported the installing Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Pakistan and Afghanistan relations were improved.

Pakistan has not been very successful in her relationship with Afghanistan between 1947 and 1999. Afghanistan is the immediate neighbor sharing a long porous border with Pakistan which is called the "Durand Line" which was marked in 1893 but it was never recognized as the international boundary by Afghanistan, and it claimed some parts of NWFD as its territory.