Pakistan's Western Borders Need More Than Military Vigilance

The recent wave of terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan is a sobering reminder that Pakistan's western frontier remains one of the country's most complex and persistent security challenges. Every attack claims precious lives, weakens investors’ confidence, disrupts trade, and raises fresh concerns about regional stability. Yet the real question is not merely who carried out these attacks, but why they continue despite years of counterterrorism operations.

Pakistan shares long and difficult borders with Afghanistan and Iran. Rugged terrain, cross-border tribal linkages, and extensive movement of people and goods make these frontiers among the hardest to secure. Border security is not solely a military responsibility; it also demands effective diplomacy, sound governance, and close regional cooperation.

Pakistani authorities have repeatedly expressed concerns that militant groups exploit territory across the western border to launch attacks inside Pakistan. However, an important distinction must be made. The existence of terrorist sanctuaries does not automatically imply state sponsorship. In many border regions, weak administrative control, porous frontiers, criminal networks, and ungoverned spaces can provide militants with opportunities to operate without necessarily reflecting official government policy. Recognizing this distinction is essential for objective analysis and effective policymaking.

At the same time, neighboring countries also bear an important responsibility. Under international law, every state is expected to ensure that its territory is not used for hostile activities against another country. Effective intelligence sharing, coordinated border management, and timely action against militant networks are therefore indispensable for regional peace and stability.

Another dimension deserves equal attention. Pakistan provides the shortest and most economical land route connecting Afghanistan to the Arabian Sea and has the potential to become a vital gateway for regional trade extending into Central Asia and beyond. Persistent instability along these corridors discourages investment, disrupts commerce, and undermines regional connectivity. It is therefore reasonable to ask who ultimately benefits from keeping Pakistan's western border unstable.

Pakistan's response extends beyond kinetic operations. Military action can eliminate terrorists, but lasting peace requires stronger border management, improved governance in border districts, sustained economic development, effective intelligence, and constructive engagement with both Kabul and Tehran. Pakistan's long-term success will depend not only on eliminating terrorists but also on dismantling the political, financial, logistical, and ideological ecosystem that allows them to recruit, regroup, and strike again.

Afghan territory must not be allowed to become safe haven for terrorist

On 8th September 2021, Iran hosted a virtual summit of the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and China on Afghanistan. The next round will be held in Tehran in the near future," Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to United Nations Majid Takht Ravanchi informed.

Ravanchi also pointed to the sufferings of the Afghan people, saying, "Afghanistan is passing through a critical juncture; hundreds of thousands of Afghans have fled their country; nearly 600,000 others have become internally displaced; essential food supplies are running short, and 18.4 million people need humanitarian assistance."

He added, "This situation is primarily the direct result of the intervention by the US and other foreign forces in Afghanistan and their irresponsible withdrawal. When they entered Afghanistan, they brought catastrophe for Afghans, and when they withdrew, they left calamity for Afghans."

"Iran stands ready to facilitate the transfer of humanitarian aids to Afghanistan through Iran’s sea ports, airports, railways, roads and border crossings," said Ravanchi.

Iran’s ambassador the UN added, "Afghanistan’s people must also be helped to achieve lasting peace, stability and prosperity. The full realization of this objective must be facilitated and strongly supported by the international community particularly the neighboring countries.

Ravanchi went on to say that Iran urges all Afghan leaders from different religious, linguistic, ethnic, and political backgrounds to place the interests of Afghan people above all things.

"Indeed, the path to stability, durable peace and sustainable development in Afghanistan passes through intra-Afghan talks with the active and equal participation of the true representatives of all ethnic, linguistic and religious groups aimed at finding a just, peaceful and durable solution to the crisis, achieving national reconciliation and establishing a truly inclusive, broad-based and fully representative government that is emerged from a free and fair elections including with the full participation of women both as voters and candidates and is committed to combat terrorism and organized crime as well as to guarantee and protect, based on true Islamic teachings and principles, the human rights of all Afghan people including ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities and women. We expect the Taliban to honor its commitments in this regard. Such a government will enjoy Iran’s support," he stated.

"Like Afghanistan’s other neighbors we are gravely concerned about insecurity and instability as well as threats of terrorist networks and organized criminals active in trafficking in drugs and persons," he added.

"We also strongly believe that Afghanistan’s territory must not be used, under any circumstances, to threaten or attack any country or to shelter or train terrorists, or to plan or to finance terrorist acts. Terrorist groups like Daesh that represent a grave threat to Afghanistan and the region must not be allowed to operate in that country."

Ravanchi also cited the services that Iran has provided for commercial ties between Afghanistan as a landlocked country and other countries through Chabahar Port and to Europe through the Khaf-Herat railway.

"Afghanistan needs to be supported to overcome its current economic difficulties. We have established the link from Afghanistan as a land-locked country to high seas through Iran’s Chabahar Port and to Europe through the Khaf-Herat railway."