Research & Policy Studies

Afghan refugees and border control: Pakistan’s challenges and policy options

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By Urooj Jafri 1. Introduction and background Following the Taliban’s capture of the Afghan capital last year, thousands were seen rushing to the Kabul airport in an effort to to flee out of the country. While in the beginning many were evacuated directly to countries in the West, later some were flown out to Qatar … Read more

Fallout of Afghan situation and Pakistan’s policy responses

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By Ahmed Ali Introduction For Pakistan, the perils of a militant regime in Kabul have become unmistakably clear as the country has witnessed a mindboggling 51% increase in the number of terrorist attacks in a single year since the Taliban takeover. On 10 August 2022, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif stated in the National Assembly that … Read more

Afghanistan’s persisting outlook on Pakistan: Lessons for Islamabad’s Afghan policy

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By Zia Ur Rehman 1. Introduction and background Pakistan has a unique relationship with Afghanistan. The two countries share a 2,570 km long border, also called Durand Line, and have numerous cultural, ethnic and religious connections. The former Afghan leader Hamid Karzai once described the two countries as “joined together like twins” and “inseparable.”[1] Yet … Read more

Pakistan’s peace talks with TTP: Prospective outcome and implications

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By Muhammad Amir Rana 1. Background The outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) agreed to an indefinite ceasefire with the government of Pakistan on May 29, 2022.[1] The announcement was not much of a surprise as the secret talk process had already been revealed by the media. However, the terms of the ceasefire caused an uproar in … Read more

Political crisis in Pakistan: is democracy responsible?

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With another Prime Minister ousted before completing his five-year term, many blame Pakistan’s instability on the democratic system of power competition among political parties. But Fizza Batool argues that illiberalism, not democracy, is to blame The power game and the blame game On 10 April 2022, Imran Khan, the 18th Prime Minister of Pakistan, was ousted from the … Read more

Afghan displacement prospects after a tricky trimester

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Executive summary Forced displacement has been an unfortunate but near constant challenge facing millions of Afghans over the last four decades. Throughout this time, armed conflict has been the biggest driver causing countless Afghans to be internally displaced, or fleeing their country in search of safety. To this day, involuntary displacement keeps millions of Afghans … Read more

Iran’s Afghan policy after the U.S. withdrawal: Implications for Pakistan and the region

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Asif Durrani has been a career diplomat for 32 years, who served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE and Iran. In his early diplomatic career, he was posted to India, Afghanistan, UK, and Pakistan Mission to the United Nations in New York. Before joining the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1986, Ambassador Durrani worked as a journalist focusing on Afghanistan and Iran. He is an alumnus of Balochistan University, Quetta, and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. He regularly contributes to national and international media. Currently, he is serving as a Senior Research Fellow in Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI).