PESHAWAR
The Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) organized the Pak-Afghan Tribal Leaders Dialogue in Peshawar, bringing together elders and community representatives from both sides of the border. Advisor to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information and Public Relations, Barrister Dr. Muhammad Ali Saif, attended as the Chief Guest and delivered a candid address on the future of Pak-Afghan relations.
Barrister Dr. Saif reminded the participants that Pakistan and Afghanistan are bound by far more than geography. “Religion is the strongest binding force between us, and our cultures, traditions, and ways of life are intertwined. State boundaries may differ, but the people remain one,” he said.
He highlighted that while states across the world have faced disputes for centuries, lasting peace has always been achieved through dialogue rather than conflict. “Even the Second World War, with all its destruction, eventually ended at the negotiation table. The lesson for us is clear: dialogue is not an option, it is the only way forward,” he remarked.
The Advisor pointed out that ordinary people on both sides have been the greatest victims of instability, while only limited groups have benefitted from continued clashes. “No one outside this region cares for our progress. If we fail to ensure unity and stability ourselves, no one else will do it for us. Our decisions today will determine whether our children inherit war or peace,” he stressed.
Barrister Dr. Saif expressed particular concern over the vacuum in Pak-Afghan engagement following the U.S. withdrawal. “For more than a year after the American exit, no official visit was made to Afghanistan, and we did not even have an ambassador posted in Kabul. This lack of initiative has created a dangerous gap, weakening trust and leaving space for misunderstandings,” he said.
He criticized the federal government’s indifference, noting that repeated proposals for delegations to visit Afghanistan were blocked or left unattended. “Such rigidity only deepens the disconnect. The people of the border regions cannot afford the cost of Islamabad’s inaction. Dialogue and people-to-people contact must be encouraged, not stifled,” he remarked.
Emphasizing the role of regional stakeholders, Barrister Dr. Saif said it was not enough to expect state leadership alone to repair relations. “The responsibility lies with us, the people of both countries. It is our voices, our unity, and our dialogue that will build the foundation of peace,” he concluded, reaffirming Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s commitment to supporting platforms that promote mutual understanding and cooperation.
