Touqir Hussain, a former Pakistani ambassador and currently a professor at Georgetown University, has called for a fundamental overhaul of Islamabad’s policy toward Afghanistan, asserting that treating the country primarily as a security issue has proven counterproductive.
Kabul 24: Writing in an op-ed published in Pakistan’s *Dawn* newspaper, Hussain noted that Afghanistan has consistently posed a challenge for Islamabad, regardless of which administration holds power in Kabul. He emphasized that Pakistan’s own past policies have actively contributed to the worsening stability of the region.
Describing the Afghan crisis as a political challenge with a military dimension rather than a purely military problem, Hussain highlighted deep-seated internal drivers of instability. These include ethnic tensions, socio-economic disparities between rural and urban populations, religious differences, ideological conflict, and competing regional powers.
Hussain was equally critical of the two-decade U.S. military footprint in Afghanistan, arguing that Washington entered the conflict without a coherent long-term strategy and prolonged its presence despite persistent operational setbacks.
He observed that both Afghan and Pakistani populaces have suffered decades of destruction, adding that former Afghan political leaders must also accept responsibility for the country’s present state.
Outlining a potential roadmap for bilateral engagement, the diplomat recommended that Islamabad adopt a comprehensive, balanced policy that carefully combines diplomatic pressure with economic incentives across key domain areas, including border management, trade, and refugee governance.
Crucially, Hussain warned Pakistani leadership against backing opposition groups fighting the Islamic Emirate, whether independently or on behalf of Washington.
“Pakistan must not become part of another American war,” Hussain cautioned, adding that financial aid from Washington cannot compensate for the structural damages inflicted by failed wars. Ultimately, he framed the establishment of stable, pragmatic ties between Kabul and Islamabad as an indispensable prerequisite for the mutual security, economic future, and long-term political stability of both nations.
