Pakistan's ambition to serve as the gateway between South Asia and Central Asia has always been at the heart of its Afghanistan policy. The frantic diplomacy around the war between US-Israel and Iran i.e. mediation efforts as well as attempts to stich alliances/partnerships with countries such as Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt and Turkiye also reflect the desire for regional peace, stability and open trading corridors. But a fundamental contradiction overshadows this drive: continuously deteriorating security situation and dysfunctional borders with both India and Afghanistan.

No doubt, Pakistan offers Central Asia the shortest access to the Arabian Sea through the ports of Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar. Yet geography alone does not determine trade flows. Can the country progress when almost all three borders remain closed or only partially functional (Iran border) for formal trade? Are cross-border trade and terrorism correlated at all? Evidence points to an emphatic 'no'. Barring a slight decline after Pakistan shut down the border on October 11, cross-border terrorist attacks in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakthunkhwa have only intensified.

The month of July, for example, turned out to be the deadliest with 317 security and civilian casualties. Even August began with a suicide bombing that took 17 lives in the Kabal district of Swat.

The loss of life........

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