Afghanistan – Pakistan Relations
Afghanistan has always preferred to improve and strengthen its relations with the brotherly country of Pakistan in various fields of mutual interest.
Following the independence of Pakistan in 1947 diplomatic ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan was established. The exchange of ambassadors between the two sides took place in 1948.
The two neighborly Muslim people, who share many commonalities, such as history, religion, several ethnic groups (Pashtons and Baloch), historical heritage, had co-existence for centuries. It goes behind formal relation which usually under the context of states the governments enjoy, but the people across the region manage to handle their affairs on the basis of good neighborly relations and traditional Jirga.
For the last three decades, particularly after the invasion of Soviet Union on Afghanistan and the support of Pakistan government to the Afghan Jihad against the Soviets and the acceptance of more than three million Afghan refugees in Pakistan have been very effective in strengthening the relations between the two brotherly countries, which the government and people of Afghanistan appreciate.
The Soviet forces indicated its withdrawal. The Peace Accord ended the proxy war and was signed in Geneva on April 14, 1988.
After the success of International Coalition over the Taliban regime in 2001, and Bonn Agreements the Interim Administration followed by Transitional State and elected government of Afghanistan was established under leadership of Mr. Hamid Karzai. The new Afghan government took many steps to further stabilize and improve Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. And the efforts still continue. As a matter of policy it is timely to set aside the past and look to the future. Among other measures economic cooperation as a tool for confidence building is considered favorably.
The assistance of Pakistan government in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan in various areas have helped Afghanistan overcome some hard-ships. For the time being a huge number of Afghanistan Refugees are still in Pakistan and the government of Pakistan in collaboration with the Afghan Ministry of Refugee and Repatriation and the UNHCR work for the volunteer and peaceful return of Afghans.
Pakistan's cooperation in the tripartite meetings Afghanistan-Pakistan-US in fighting terrorism is another positive step. Recently the above mentioned countries have established combined-intelligence office in Kabul.
To reaffirm and further strengthen the resolve of two brother countries to bring sustainable peace in the region, the Afghan-Pak joint peace Jirga was convened in Kabul, Afghanistan form August 9 to August 12, 2007.
The Jirga opened a channel of people-to-people dialogue in which around 700 people including members of the parliaments, political parties, religious scholars, tribal elders, provincial councils, civil society and business community of both countries participated.
Several official visits by the President of Afghanistan and Pakistan are vivid signs for strengthening the relation between two countries.
The government and people of Afghanistan are expecting peace and stability in the region particularly in the brotherly Islamic Country of Pakistan and are ready for cooperation in this regard.
H.E President Hamid Karzai has stated that Afghanistan will not allow any country to use its soil against the brotherly country of Pakistan.