By Zahid Bashir

History has never been a simple chronicle of victories or defeats; it is a mirror reflecting the choices of nations. The relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan—two neighbours bound by faith, geography, and bloodlines—has been a story of missed opportunities, mutual suspicion, and painful sacrifice. Yet within this turbulent past lies an undeniable truth: our futures are inseparable, and the road to regional peace and prosperity runs through mutual understanding, not mistrust.

The Lessons of History

From the early days of Pakistan’s independence, relations with Afghanistan were shadowed by border disputes and political misunderstandings. Decades of coups, invasions, and foreign interference turned Afghanistan into the epicentre of great-power games—each leaving deep scars on both sides of the Durand Line.

When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, Pakistan stood at a moral and strategic crossroads. Despite limited means, it opened its borders to millions of Afghan refugees, offered sanctuary, and supported the Afghan resistance at immense human and financial cost. The world witnessed the resilience of Pakistan’s people, who shared their homes and livelihoods with their Afghan brethren. This generosity was not politics—it was faith in action.

But goodwill often meets betrayal in the theatre of geopolitics. The decades that followed brought waves of militancy, economic strain, and attacks on Pakistani soil. Over 70,000 Pakistanis lost their lives, countless families were displaced, and the........

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