Why has Pakistan supported Afghan opposition groups since its founding?
A look at the historical and geopolitical roots of a controversial policy
Kabul Times News | Analysis
Since the founding of Pakistan in 1947, relations between Kabul and Islamabad have always been characterized by distrust, tension, and competition. One of the most important questions that has been raised in Afghan politics over the past decades is why Pakistan has supported groups opposing Afghan governments at different times?
The answer to this question is not simple and one-dimensional; but many researchers and analysts of international relations consider a set of historical, security, and geopolitical factors to be effective in shaping this policy.
The first factor is the long-standing dispute over the Durand Line and the Pashtunistan issue. Afghanistan was the only country that challenged Pakistan’s membership in the United Nations due to border disputes at the beginning of its formation. This issue has overshadowed the relations between the two countries from the very beginning and has provided the basis for mutual distrust.
From a geopolitical perspective, Afghanistan has always been one of the most important areas of competition between regional and global powers due to its strategic location at the intersection of South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. This location has caused developments in Afghanistan to directly affect Pakistan's security and foreign policy.
During the Cold War, Pakistan became one of the main allies of the United States and Western countries and played a pivotal role in supporting the Afghan Mujahideen against the Soviet army. This cooperation further strengthened Pakistan's position in the regional security equation.
After the withdrawal of Soviet forces and even after 2001, a number of international reports and academic research have claimed that parts of Pakistan's security structure have continued to support some groups opposing the Afghan government. These reports have stated that the goal of such a policy is to maintain "strategic depth", prevent the expansion of Indian influence in Afghanistan, and maintain leverage over political developments in Kabul.
Based on the theory of “strategic depth,” some Pakistani security agencies consider Afghanistan to be part of their security environment and are trying to prevent the formation of a state that has very close relations with India.
In contrast, a number of analysts believe that the root of the crisis in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations is not limited to Islamabad’s policies alone. From their perspective, historical differences, border disputes, regional rivalries, weak state institutions in both countries, and interventions by foreign powers have also played a fundamental role in perpetuating this crisis.
Overall, many researchers believe that factors such as the dispute over the Durand Line, Pakistan’s security concerns, rivalry with India, the policy of strategic depth, and rivalry between regional and global powers are among the most important reasons for the continued tension in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations over the past seven decades.
However, a precise understanding of this issue requires a comprehensive examination of different perspectives and reliance on historical evidence and credible research; Because the relations between the two countries are the result of a complex set of historical, political and security factors and cannot be explained by just one factor.
Author: Sayed Nizamuddin Wahdat
Head of the Defenders of National Interests of Afghanistan
Why has Pakistan supported Afghan opposition groups since its founding?
