Bilateral political tensions are escalating to unprecedented levels, creating yet another humanitarian crisis on both sides of Pak-Afghan border. These concerns were echoed at a recent all-party Peace Jirga convened by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly — an unprecedented gathering representing a broad cross-section of society. The dominant message was clear: inclusive dialogue with provincial stakeholders, not confrontation, is the only viable path forward.

In this already volatile environment, Taliban Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Baradar abruptly instructed Afghan traders — without prior consultation or planning — to end commercial ties with Pakistan within three months and seek alternative trade routes. His televised directive appeared more political than strategic, given Afghanistan's longstanding dependence on Pakistani land and ports.

During the two-decade-long US-led occupation, hundreds of billions of dollars flowed into Afghanistan, and Kabul enjoyed broad international support. Even then, however, Pakistan remained the primary lifeline for the landlocked country due to its 2,600-kilometer border and unmatched access to global markets. Despite Pakistan being frequently criticised for its role in Afghanistan's conflict, former Afghan presidents Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani never considered halting trade through Pakistan. While Kabul is fully entitled to diversify its trade routes, such........

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