Pakistan’s civil-military elite reconsiders decades-old Afghan strategy

Pakistan’s civil-military relationship has historically been fraught, yet recent conciliatory moves have reduced the risk of open conflict between the armed forces and civilian governments. The security establishment continues to label any political disagreement on counter-terrorism as subversive, a stance reinforced by past incidents such as the PTI ouster. The article outlines how the Afghan policy originated under Bhutto, was ideologically cemented by Gen Ziaul Haq, and functioned effectively until the Taliban’s 2021 resurgence.

Analysts now observe a consensus within the security circles that the old policy has lost relevance, prompting calls for a new strategy that distances Pakistan from the Taliban. The removal of the Afridi provincial government removes a barrier to this shift, but the specifics of the forthcoming Afghan policy remain uncertain. The piece also highlights how historical narratives have been used to blame political parties for security failures, a practice that appears to be waning.