Experts sound alarm on Pak-Afghan rift

The Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad, convened a roundtable to assess the rapidly deteriorating state of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, marked by deepening mistrust, inflammatory rhetoric, stalled political dialogue, and major disruptions to cross-border trade.

Participants stressed that security concerns must not be conflated with economic cooperation, urging both governments to decouple trade from politics, make unconditional diplomatic overtures, and safeguard the livelihoods of border communities suffering due to prolonged closures.

Speakers underscored the escalating humanitarian toll, billions in economic losses, weakening people-to-people ties, and the urgent need for rational discourse.

Titled "Evolving Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations: Challenges and Prospects for Regional Stability", the roundtable brought together senior diplomats, economists, security experts, and policymakers from both sides.