Unveiling The Hostile Dynamics: Pakistan And Afghanistan In The Seventies

Abstract

Since the inception of Pakistan, Afghanistan has maintained a passionate focus on the Pashtunistan issue. Daud during his initial term as prime minister of Afghanistan adopted a stringent stance towards Pakistan concerning the matter. Later during his second tenure as President of Afghanistan, his approach grew more assertive, driven by the Pashtunistan predicament. The termination of the NAP-JUI government in Baluchistan and NWFP furnished him with additional grounds to endorse the nationalist movements in these regions. His persistent meddling in Pakistan’s internal affairs compelled Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to reciprocate with anti-Afghan government policy. Throughout the 1970s, there was a reciprocal exchange of hostile actions between the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The decade witnessed a tit-for-tat dynamic between the two governments. Eventually, Daud acquiesced to a treaty acknowledging the Durand Line as the international border delineating Pakistan and Afghanistan, in exchange for reassurance regarding the safety and security of Pashtuns residing in Pakistan. Regrettably, this accord was thwarted by subsequent military coups in both countries.