Pakistan's efforts to establish a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan have been despite regional complexities and evolving political realities. The country's participation is based on shared history, culture, and geography, as well as the strategic imperative for sustainable regionalism. During turbulent times, Pakistan has consistently demonstrated its friendship and served as a reliable ally in times of need. Afghanistan, a key stop on the Silk Road, is restoring connections through region-wide programs, such as CASA-1000 and the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement. Pakistan and Afghanistan are closely interlinked, with over 1.3 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Security matters remain a concern for both nations.

Pakistan's national security is bolstered by its active support for the peace process in Afghanistan, fostering increased trade and economic linkages. Key regions, including the Ghulam Khan crossing and Karachi port, offer significant economic benefits. Pakistan's goal is to create a stable, peaceful, and development-friendly Afghanistan, fostering mutual development and ensuring standard security. The historical connection between the Pashtuns, Tajiks, and Hazara people along the common border between Pakistan and Afghanistan supports strong people-to-people relations.

Pakistan has long maintained warm ties with Afghanistan, despite mistrust and hatred, based on national interest and regional stability. Over the past 40 years, Pakistan has provided over 4 million Afghan refugees with education, healthcare, and security. However, Pakistan has not fulfilled the promises of peace, stability, and development that were made by Western countries.

Sectoral Contributions by Pakistan toward Afghanistan’s Reconstruction

Pakistan is actively assisting in Afghanistan's reconstruction by setting up 153 schools, including 55 home-based schools, and 13 early childhood centers for Afghan refugees. Over 7,000 Afghan students study in Pakistan's universities with scholarships, and over 100,000 Afghan graduates are employed in the government sector. Pakistan has invested millions in education for sustainable development and youth empowerment. Successful projects include the Rehman Baba School and Hostel in Kabul, the Liaquat Ali Khan Engineering Faculty at Balkh University, as well as faculties at Kabul and Nangarhar Universities. Pakistan has also provided school kits to 300,000 Afghan students and supplied buses to university campuses, ensuring bilateral educational relationships.

Pakistan's medical diplomacy in Afghanistan focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and promoting peace and prosperity in the region. The major medical projects undertaken in this context include Jinnah Hospital in Kabul, Nishtar Kidney Centre in Jalalabad, and Naeb Aminullah Khan Hospital in Logar.

Pakistan also provided 45 ambulances and 14 mobile medical units (worth Rs 580.20 million), and more than 30,000 eye surgeries and surgical operations were performed free of charge. These operations have significantly developed Afghanistan's health infrastructure, unloading the health networks of host populations and delivering essential medical aid to vulnerable populations.

Pakistan is planning to invest in Afghan infrastructure, including a 75 km Torkham-Jalalabad road, a second carriageway, three internal roads in Jalalabad, and the deployment of machinery in Wardak. The donation of 200 trucks and 100 city buses has improved community transportation. Future connectivity plans include connections between the Chaman-Spinboldak and Peshawar-Jalalabad railways. These projects aim to enhance regional trade and economic integration in Afghanistan.

As part of the Pak-Afghan Cooperation Forum, 88 relief convoys (comprising 756 trucks and 4 C-130 flights) were delivered by Pakistan from September 2021 to September 2022, carrying 25,000 tons of humanitarian aid valued at USD 30 million. Pakistan has donated 15,540 tons of essential goods and 15,000 tons of important medical and shelter supplies, including TV transmitters, security facilities, hand pumps, and park restoration equipment. This is a testament to Pakistan's prioritization of humanitarian activity despite the world turning its back.

Conclusion

The testament to Pakistan's long-term commitment to the strategic interests of the regions surrounding it is its investment in Afghanistan, driven by a long-standing history of civilizational commonality as well as its immediate proximity. This infrastructure investment, education, health, and humanitarian aid are based on a shared destiny and are integral to Pakistan's long-term bilateral stability and integration. Although the world prioritized its affairs differently, Pakistan has consistently cooperated with its vision of being a regional stakeholder, demonstrating historical responsibility and interdependence.

Abdul Mussawer Safi has pursued a master's degree in International Relations. His research domain primarily lies in the regional dynamics of South Asia, with a focus on strategic and terrorism studies. Safi has worked as a correspondent with various media outlets and think tanks, including the International Policy Digest (IPD) and the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) in Islamabad.