Pakistan will have to work with Afghanistan despite challenges: Dastagir

Islamabad:Former Federal Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan, has said that the current regime in Afghanistan is evidently there to stay and Pakistan will have to work with it and there are several challenges like terrorism that threaten both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Mr Dastagir was delivering keynote address at launch of the book “Navigating uncertainty: perspectives on post-Taliban Afghanistan and geopolitical footsteps" hosted by Institute of Strategic Studies (ISS). The book was edited by Sheharyar Khan and jointly published by Hans Seidel Foundation (HSF) and National Dialogue Forum (NDF).

Mr Dastagir opined that Pakistan will have to find a way amidst these complexities. Afghanistan is a crucial transit country from South Asia to Central Asia and the post-withdrawal Afghanistan for the first time in many decades is territorially united. There is a tremendous decline in narcotics, increase in primary school enrolment and a lot of attention is being paid to rural Afghanistan.

Sheharyar Khan, Executive Director, NDF, while introducing the book, said that Afghanistan, often regarded as the heart of Asia, has long been at the crossroads of cultures, conflicts and aspirations. Following the seismic shift marked by the Taliban’s return to power, it became evident that we needed to look beyond the prevailing narratives of war and chaos. He said the purpose of this book is to illuminate the complexities of Afghanistan by bringing together diverse perspectives that dissect the nation's political, economic, and social realities.

Amina Khan, Director, ISS, stated that the book represents a significant intellectual contribution providing nuanced and wide ranging perspectives on a subject of profound importance as reflected in the title. She further said that at a time when the discourse on Afghanistan often seems dominated by narratives from outside the region, it is encouraging to see such a compelling body of work emerging from within our own part of the world, not only adding to the academic discourse but more so providing authenticity often missing in external narratives.

Dr Hassan Abbas, Distinguished Professor, Near East South Asia Strategic Studies Centre (NESA), National Defense University in Washington DC, highlighted key issues surrounding Taliban governance, security and regional dynamics.