Abstract:
Pakistan relations with Afghanistan have mostly been frail, based on mutual mistrust
which has never allowed the two countries to establish closer ties. In post Taliban era,
Pakistan recognized Hamid Karzai government and expressed its desire of establishing
friendly relations but nature of relationship was fragile and mistrust was dominant. Their
bilateral relations during (2001-2008) showed heightened mistrust which inhibited the
development of strong and stable relationship and presented a situation of Prisoner‟s
Dilemma. Several issues strained their relations and were responsible for widening trust
gap. Mistrust in the fight against terrorism, cross border infiltration, blame game, safe
havens in FATA and regional factors complicated the situation and halted cooperation
between the two neighbors. Pakistan and Afghanistan are security seekers but concrete
steps for bringing peace and security are lacking on their part. A friendly and secure
Afghanistan is very much important for Pakistan‟s future stability, security and prosperity
and vice versa. Mistrust and causes of friction, if not removed, will complicate the
process of maintaining friendly relations and threaten regional peace and security. The
study therefore, highlights the causes of friction and recommends breaking the Prisoner‟s
Dilemma to establish relations based on mutual trust and cooperation.
