Afifa Asif
In today’s international environment, national security remains a primary concern for every state. However, the nature of security itself has evolved significantly. In the past, states primarily feared conventional military invasions involving foreign troops, tanks, and large-scale ground offensives.
Today, Pakistan faces a different set of security challenges. Rather than confronting a conventional invading army at its borders, it must address more complex and less visible threats, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and militant organizations operating across and within its western frontier.
Traditional security measures based solely on military deployments, physical barriers, and conventional weaponry are no longer sufficient to address these emerging challenges. As modern threats transcend physical borders and conventional battlefields, Pakistan requires a broader security strategy that integrates national security with regional economic cooperation and diplomacy.
One of Pakistan’s most pressing security concerns lies along its western border with Afghanistan. The Durand Line, stretching approximately 2,640 kilometers, has increasingly become a zone of insecurity. Much of this challenge stems from the activities of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Pakistan maintains operates from sanctuaries located inside Afghan territory.
In response to these security threats, Pakistan has adopted a predominantly military approach. Air strikes targeting alleged TTP positions inside Afghanistan have been conducted in an effort to disrupt militant networks. However, these operations have generated significant tensions with Afghanistan’s de facto authorities.
According to the author’s argument, the resulting escalation included the reported use of weaponized drones in areas such as Pishin and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The deterioration in bilateral relations also contributed to the collapse of previous confidence-building measures, displacement of civilians in border areas, and disruptions to cross-border trade as security restrictions affected the movement of commercial cargo.
These developments demonstrate an important reality: physical border fencing alone cannot effectively address evolving security threats such as drone warfare and cross-border militancy.
Pakistan has sought to manage these challenges through diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan’s leadership in Kabul. However, according to the author, bilateral dialogue alone has not produced the desired outcomes. Consequently, Pakistan should consider expanding diplomatic engagement by involving a trusted regional stakeholder such as China.
China represents a significant regional partner with substantial economic interests in both Pakistan and Afghanistan through infrastructure development, connectivity projects, and broader regional investment initiatives. Given these shared interests, trilateral cooperation among Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China could contribute to more effective border management, intelligence coordination, and regional stability. The author proposes exploring a coordinated tri-border monitoring mechanism aimed at strengthening security cooperation while promoting mutual economic interests.
The article further argues that Pakistan should reconsider how it frames its security dialogue with Afghanistan. Rather than treating security cooperation solely as a political obligation, Pakistan could incorporate economic incentives into bilateral negotiations. Access to Pakistani ports, transit facilities, and trade corridors could be linked to greater cooperation in addressing militant groups operating along the shared border. From this perspective, regional security would become part of a broader framework of economic cooperation rather than relying exclusively on military deterrence.
The changing nature of regional conflict suggests that military force alone is unlikely to provide sustainable security solutions. Contemporary threats increasingly require comprehensive strategies that combine diplomacy, economic integration, intelligence cooperation, and regional engagement.
For this reason, Pakistan should continue strengthening its geo-economic approach to foreign policy. Geo-economics emphasizes the use of trade, investment, connectivity, and economic interdependence as instruments of national security and regional stability. As countries develop stronger commercial relationships, they also acquire greater incentives to preserve peace and maintain stable political relations.
By expanding regional economic cooperation, particularly with Afghanistan and China, Pakistan can pursue a security strategy that complements traditional defense capabilities with economic partnerships. A framework based on trade, shared prosperity, and coordinated border management may ultimately provide a more sustainable foundation for long-term peace and security than reliance on military measures alone.
The author completed her MPhil in International Relations at Kinnaird College, Lahore, and her BS (Hons.) in English Literature from Lahore College for Women University. She specializes in international relations theory, diplomacy, peace and conflict studies, and the geopolitics of South Asia within the evolving global order. Her academic background in literature and linguistics enables her to integrate textual analysis with political inquiry. Beyond academia, she has worked extensively in the NGO sector and continues to volunteer with various non-governmental organizations. She has also served as a course facilitator and leadership trainee on a U.S.-based educational platform.
