New Carnegie Paper Analyzes
Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations since 9/11
In
the wake of White House visits by the presidents of both
nations, continuing regional violence and the resurgence
of the Taliban threatens to undermine the fragile peace
between Afghanistan and Pakistan —two states torn
between necessary cooperation in the War on Terror and tense
disputes over territory and the influence of Islamic constituencies.
How has the relationship between these two regional powers
changed since the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United
States, and what roles can we expect them to play in the
future?
In a new Carnegie Paper, Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations
in the Post-9/11 Era, Visiting Scholar Frédéric
Grare provides insight into the causes of conflict between
the national governments, offers a view of Afghanistan from
a Pakistani perspective, and proposes a series of solutions
for the troubled region. To read this Carnegie Paper visit:
www.CarnegieEndowment.org/SouthAsia.
Grare argues that while the relationship between the two
nations is historically marked by suspicion and conflict,
the battle over regional authority must now incorporate
the demands of the United States and the War on Terror,
making cooperation a necessity. Hesitant to appear the weaker
country on fighting terrorism, both Afghanistan and Pakistan
struggle to balance their regional objectives with the need
to maintain a vital strategic alliance with the US.
Normalizing relations between the two countries is vital
for regional security, but proves a daunting task. Grare
offers policy recommendations that could create a lasting
peace, including the long-term deployment of international
forces in Afghanistan, a compromise over the contentious
Durand line, and addressing concerns over perceived links
between Afghanistan and India.
Direct link to PDF: http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/cp72_grare_final.pdf
Frédéric Grare is a visiting scholar with
the Carnegie Endowment. A leading expert and writer on South
Asia, Grare served most recently in the French Embassy in
Pakistan and, from 1999 to 2003, in New Delhi as director
of the Centre for Social Sciences and Humanities. Grare
edited the volume India, China , Russia : Intricacies of
an Asian Triangle.
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a private,
nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing cooperation
between nations and promoting active international engagement
by the United States . www.CarnegieEndowment.org
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