The Afghan Taliban’s failure to take credible action against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and a series of recent border hostilities have severely strained the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan, prompting calls for an urgent diplomatic reset built on verifiable security guarantees and mutual respect.

These pressing concerns were voiced by a panel of diplomats, academics, and defense analysts at a roundtable discussion titled ‘Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations: A Multidimensional View,’ organized by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) on Thursday.

Participants identified deep-seated structural flaws within the Taliban regime as a primary obstacle. These shortcomings include the lack of a well-defined authority structure, significant political fragmentation, a perceived tilt towards India, and divisive media narratives, all of which prevent the two nations from realizing their full potential for cooperation.

The discussion highlighted that since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, the group has struggled to transition from a religious movement to a nationalist force. This has created a disconnect with its population and complicated foreign relations. During this period, Pakistan has exercised ‘strategic patience’ as a conduit for engagement with the new administration in Kabul.

Analysts observed that the relationship rests on five pillars: political, defense, economic, people-to-people interaction, and culture. While advancements have occurred in the latter three areas, the crucial political and defense arenas have consistently failed to see similar progress, deepening the trust deficit.

The forum concluded that a forward-looking approach requires sustained political will and a shift from reactive to strategic diplomacy. Experts emphasized the need for an engagement mechanism with tangible guarantees to proactively address Islamabad’s security concerns emanating from Afghan territory, including threats from non-conventional, India-backed proxies.

Furthermore, speakers recommended that trade and politics should be treated as separate domains to protect economic ties. They also suggested that Pakistan should establish greater economic and security stakes for key regional players like China and Russia, while maintaining the non-recognition of the Taliban government until it effectively stops militant groups from using its soil for terrorist activities in Pakistan. The media on both sides were urged to play a constructive role in promoting narratives of cooperation.