ROLE OF PAKISTAN IN THE AFGHAN PEACE PROCESS

Abstract

Afghanistan is an important state approximately situated in Central Asia. Afghanistan has its borders in the east and south with Pakistan and uses the sea route via Pakistan. Afghanistan has been suffering from war since the 1970s. After the brutalities of the civil war foreign invasion of the Soviet Union in 1979 and America in 2001made destruction everywhere in Afghanistan and killed thousands of innocent Afghans. Great powers came to Afghanistan to crush the roots of religious extremism, drug trafficking, terrorism and smuggling. Pakistan did not enjoy cordial ties with its western neighbor Afghanistan. Pakistan is the biggest beneficiary if peace prevails in Afghanistan. Pakistan has suffered the most due to the wars and instability in Afghanistan. Pakistan has lost billions of dollars and thousands of people in the war of terror started by America. Pakistan is supporting the peace process in Afghanistan and convincing all stakeholders to sit atthe table and try to stabilize the country. The Taliban and America have signed a peace deal on 29 February 2020, in Doha to end the longest war in the history of America. Pakistan played a positive and constructive role to bring the Taliban tothe negotiation table with America. This paper highlights the role played by Pakistan in the Afghan peace process.