By Sardar Khan Niazi

Afghanistan, long seen as a battleground for ideological wars and humanitarian despair, is re-emerging as a central player in the new geopolitics of Asia. However, unlike in the past, the West is not orchestrating this recalibration. Instead, regional actors — driven by economics, security, and strategic realism are leading it. After decades of estrangement, the Central Asian Republics are reconnecting with Afghanistan. Russia has taken a decisive step by recognizing the Taliban regime, a move that could catalyze broader regional engagement. China, through its BRI, has already entrenched itself in Afghanistan with economic and strategic projects. The United States, though militarily absent, remains alert to Afghanistan’s untapped mineral wealth. However, the real transformation lies in regional cooperation — and in that, Pakistan stands at the crossroads of opportunity and challenge. In a quietly consequential development, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan have agreed to collaborate within China’s BRI framework. This move could reshape Asia’s connectivity map and alter the very foundations of influence and power in the region. For Pakistan, this marks an important chance to pivot from a security-centric outlook to one anchored in regional integration and economic diplomacy. Islamabad is now strategically positioned as a land bridge — linking South Asia to Central Asia and the Middle East. Projects like the Mazar-i-Sharif to Peshawar railway line, the CASA-1000 electricity corridor, and renewed discussions on the long-delayed TAPI gas pipeline exemplify this shift. These initiatives do not just promise energy and infrastructure — they offer a route to stability through economic interdependence. The Central Asian Republics, particularly Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan, now see the Afghan corridor as their most viable path to the Arabian Sea. With diminishing reliance on traditional Russian or Iranian routes, Afghanistan and Pakistan provide the shortest overland access to the ports of Gwadar and Karachi–both critical hubs for........

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