The universal truth that you cannot choose your neighbours represents an immutable reality for Pak­istan and Afghanistan, two countries bound historically, linguis­tically, and cultural­ly. Yet shared geog­raphy cannot become an excuse for Islam­abad to tolerate Kabul’s unfulfilled commitments, allow­ing India to foment unrest with­in Pakistan through terrorism by using its soil. Afghanistan does not realise that it is a pawn in In­dia’s strategy guided by the In­dian strategist Chanakya’s max­im of befriending an enemy’s neighbour and exploiting them to their advantage. This has led to increased cosying between In­dia and Afghanistan, signalled by New Delhi’s decision to reopen its embassy in Kabul and Amir Muttaqi’s visit to India, during which he issued a joint state­ment against Pakistan by refer­ring to Kashmir as part of India.

PM Shehbaz Sharif directs solarisation of loss-making power feeders

Acting on India’s behalf by sup­porting and providing sanctu­aries to Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan, terrorist or­ganisations maiming and claim­ing innocent Pakistani lives, has not done Afghanistan any fa­vours, as neither its sovereign­ty has been strengthened, nor its regional standing has improved. Moreover, Afghanistan and India cannot have a robust relation­ship because of their divergent ideologies and values. Kabul’s behaviour, working against Is­lamabad’s interests, strikingly contrasts with Pakistan’s histori­cal approach of strategic restraint and accommodation, exemplified by hosting millions of Afghan ref­ugees, facilitating trade and tran­sit, and........

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