Opinion | Pakistan’s Challenges with Afghanistan and Iran

Afghanistan, unlike Iran, does not fully support Pakistan. Both countries have quite different stances towards Pakistan. In recent years, the once-supportive Afghanistan seems merely concerned. Pakistan’s grip over Afghanistan has weakened, and India is now more visible in Afghanistan than Pakistan. The two countries share borders and have close ties due to various reasons. In contrast, Iran shares only a few commonalities with Pakistan, which have diminished over time due to religious issues between Shias and Sunnis. Let’s debate this separately to make it easier to understand.
The relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been strained since Pakistan’s independence, marked by mistrust and rivalry. Afghanistan opposed Pakistan’s membership in the United Nations, refusing to recognize the Durand Line as an international border and harboring territorial claims over Pakistan’s Pashtun-dominated areas. Pakistan’s support for the Taliban during the Afghan Civil War further deteriorated their relationship. Pakistan’s attempts to build ties with Afghanistan were largely driven by its desire to counter India’s influence in the region. This contentious history mirrors Pakistan’s fraught relationship with India over Kashmir.
Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been accused of exploiting Afghanistan on the global stage, portraying its issues as a source of terrorism, while India has established significant infrastructure and influence in Afghanistan. For the two nations to move toward a better relationship, Afghanistan would need to officially accept the Durand Line as a permanent border and renounce its territorial claims on Pakistan. It must also refrain from supporting groups that destabilize Pakistan.
Conversely, Pakistan must end its patronage of the Taliban and other factions that contribute to unrest in Afghanistan. Pakistan should genuinely support Afghan-led peace processes and cease interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs. Both nations must prioritize peace and collaboration over mutual suspicion and rivalry.
Improving relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan requires addressing these long-standing issues, but such progress will demand significant political will and mutual trust, which remains elusive.
Afghanistan was once a stable country and a prominent ruler in the region. However, the malicious interference of Pakistan exploited this peaceful nation, using it for terrorism and tarnishing its global reputation, turning it into a rogue state. In contrast, India has played a significant role in helping Afghanistan rebuild its reputation. Afghanistan has faced numerous multifaceted challenges over the years.
Pakistan and Iran are both Muslim-majority countries but differ significantly in their religious orientations. Iran is predominantly Shia, while Pakistan is primarily Sunni. Despite their shared faith, these differences have led to tensions. Iran has historically enjoyed a friendly relationship with India, while Pakistan has a Shia minority comprising about 20% of its population. The radicalization within Pakistan has fuelled sectarian violence, with the Shia-Sunni divide becoming more pronounced. Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as leaders of Sunni Islam, have influenced Pakistan, particularly Saudi Arabia, with its oil wealth assuming the mantle of Sunni leadership following Egypt’s political eclipse. Iran, however, remains a major obstacle to Saudi aspirations, as the animosity between Shias and Sunnis continues to deepen. Pakistan’s dependency on Saudi financial aid has further strained its relationship with Iran.
Iran has long demonstrated democratic instincts. In the 1950s, Mohammed Mossadegh, a democratically elected Iranian leader, was overthrown in a CIA-backed coup, and the Shah of Iran, a puppet ruler, was installed. His regime was notorious for corruption, repression, and loyalty to the United States. This regime looted Iran’s wealth, imprisoned or killed opponents, and ultimately ignited widespread anger. The Islamic Revolution overthrew the Shah, and in retaliation for U.S. support of the ousted regime, Iranian revolutionaries seized the U.S. embassy, holding its staff hostage for over two years.
As sectarian violence increased in Pakistan, groups like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi targeted Shias with impunity, worsening the plight of Pakistan’s Shia community. These developments, along with Pakistan’s inability to address its internal issues and its perceived duplicity, have pushed Iran further away. Iran has also been alienated by Pakistan’s handling of the Baluchi issue and its support for the Taliban, particularly regarding the persecution of the Hazara Shia community in Afghanistan. These factors have deepened the divide between the two nations, transforming their relationship from strained to openly hostile.
Iran’s growing alignment with India underscores the deterioration of its ties with Pakistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s habitual double-dealing, unfulfilled promises, and internal instability have left it increasingly isolated. Relations with its neighbours, including Iran, continue to worsen, painting a grim picture of Pakistan’s diplomatic standing.
Pakistan finds itself in a dilemma between Iran and Afghanistan due to its strained relationships with both neighbours, driven by complex geopolitical, sectarian, and historical factors. On one side, Afghanistan has grown increasingly distant, fuelled by mistrust over Pakistan’s involvement with the Taliban, its failure to respect Afghan sovereignty, and its inability to foster genuine peace. Afghanistan’s refusal to recognize the Durand Line, coupled with India’s growing influence through infrastructure development and diplomatic ties, has further marginalized Pakistan’s standing in the country.
On the other hand, Pakistan’s ties with Iran have deteriorated due to sectarian divides and regional politics. Iran, a predominantly Shia state, has been alienated by Pakistan’s Sunni-majority policies, its reliance on Saudi Arabia for financial aid, and the rise of anti-Shia militant groups like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi within Pakistan. The persecution of the Hazara Shias in Afghanistan by Pakistan’s proxy, the Taliban, has further strained relations. Iran’s alignment with India and its discontent over Pakistan’s handling of the Baluchi issue highlight the growing rift.
Caught between Afghanistan’s mistrust and Iran’s discontent, Pakistan faces an increasing diplomatic isolation. Its failure to address these challenges reflects deeper regional complexities, leaving its foreign policy in a precarious position.
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