Islamabad:Lt Gen (r) Inam-ul-Haq has identified the TTP as the foremost challenge to Pak-Afghan ties and stressed that meaningful normalisation would remain difficult without addressing the group's presence in Afghanistan.
Gen Haq was speaking during a high-level stakeholder consultation on “Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral developments and the way forward” organised here by Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) as part of its multitrack diplomacy initiative “Beyond Boundaries.”
Gen Haq argued that geostrategic considerations will continue to outweigh geoeconomic interests in Pak-Afghan relations. He observed that hostility between the two countries is neither natural nor desirable and called for a phased approach to normalising relations with security concerns addressed alongside economic cooperation.
Tehmina Janjua, former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, stressed that sustained engagement with Afghanistan remains essential and argued that regime change is neither a realistic nor desirable option. While acknowledging terrorism as a serious concern, she emphasised the importance of expanding trade, strengthening people-to-people ties, and promoting positive narratives to counter growing polarisation.
Fazal Moqeem, former President, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) stressed that Pak-Afghanistan relations have significant economic stakes beyond security.
He noted that many industries in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa rely on trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia and that prolonged trade disruptions led to unemployment and economic hardship. He urged both state and non-state stakeholders on either side of the border to revive dialogue through sustained table talks to help address outstanding issues and restore mutually beneficial economic engagement.
