Despite best efforts to reset ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan, major breakthroughs are rare. At root lies mistrust, which thrives on misperception about each other. These should be overcome, should the two countries really want to move forward.

These thoughts came in a seminar “Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations: Exploring the Way Forward”, which PIPS organized with the support of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), on 4 October 2018, in Islamabad. The seminar was discussed with the objective of discussing the way forward as new government took power in Pakistan.

In his welcome remarks, PIPS director Muhammad Amir Rana said the connectivity of the two countries can help connectivity with the wider region of South Asia and even rest of the world. And yet that is not achieved, as both are still stuck with the past.

Human rights activist Marvi Sirmid spoke about the status of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. She wondered why nothing has been done for them even though third generation is presently growing up. Many have been born in Pakistan. At the same time, she argued that any policy of dealing with refugee issues should consult local stakeholders, especially in Balochistan.  The issue of Afghan refugees should be dealt with a human rights dimension.