Towards Unity and Trust: Civil Society’s Blueprint for Pak-Afghan Harmony
In an era marked by geopolitical tensions and security challenges, initiatives that prioritize dialogue, mutual understanding, and collaborative growth offer a refreshing pathway toward sustainable...
In an era marked by geopolitical tensions and security challenges, initiatives that prioritize dialogue, mutual understanding, and collaborative growth offer a refreshing pathway toward sustainable peace. The conference “Towards Unity and Trust”, held in Islamabad on September 29-30, 2025, exemplifies such an approach. Organized by Women for Afghanistan (WFA), a civil society advocacy group focused on women’s rights and inclusivity, and the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute (SASI) University, a prominent Islamabad-based academic think tank, this event underscores the role of civil society and academia in bridging divides. The dialogue aimed to harness shared potentials between Pakistan and Afghanistan, emphasizing people-to-people connections and exploring avenues for cooperation that extend well beyond traditional security concerns.
Historical Context and the Need for Trust-Building Pakistan and Afghanistan share a deep historical, cultural, and ethnic tapestry, intertwined by the 2,640-kilometer international border and centuries of cross-border interactions. However, bilateral relations have often been strained by issues such as cross-border militancy, refugee movements, and differing political priorities, particularly since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Amid these challenges, civil society and academic initiatives like Towards Unity and Trust represent a paradigm shift toward “soft diplomacy”—focusing on grassroots engagement to complement formal negotiations. By convening diverse voices in a scholarly setting, the event sought to rebuild trust through inclusive discourse, aligning with broader regional stability frameworks that promote people-centric approaches to conflict resolution.
This dialogue emerges against a backdrop where diplomatic channels, while essential, have limitations in addressing the multifaceted nature of Pak-Afghan ties. Academic efforts, as highlighted by international relations theories like constructivism, emphasize how shared narratives and interpersonal exchanges can reshape identities and foster cooperation. In this vein, the conference prioritized principles of unity, mutual respect, and equitable development to counter extremism and promote a collective vision for prosperity, drawing on discussions around stability, the rule of law, and women’s rights.
A Platform for Inclusive Dialogue Organized jointly by WFA, led by prominent Afghan women’s rights advocate Fawzia Koofi, and SASI University under the chairmanship of Dr. Maria Sultan, the two-day gathering brought together approximately 37 Afghan political figures, former officials, and activists—such as Fawzia Koofi (former member of parliament), Dr. Nasir Ahmad Andisha (Afghanistan’s UN representative), Mustafa Mastoor (former economy minister), Ahmadullah Alizai (former governor of Kabul), and Tahir Zohair (former governor of Bamyan)—alongside Pakistani academics, diplomats, and civil society representatives.
The purpose was explicitly framed in terms of developing shared principles for Afghanistan’s future stability and inclusivity, while addressing regional challenges through enhanced mutual understanding. The first day focused on open engagements among Afghan leaders to define common grounds on stability, rule of law, and support for women’s rights and inclusion. The second day featured a joint Pak-Afghan session to identify areas of trust-building and advance people-centric solutions.
Discussions spanned education, culture, economy, and counter-extremism, with a core message that “peace between people leads to peace between nations.” Organizers emphasized fostering unity and trust through candid exchanges, highlighting the importance of women’s participation in governance and broader societal inclusivity.
A key strength of the dialogue lay in its forward-looking agenda, which spotlighted synergies in education, culture, economy, and counter-extremism as discussed by participants. For instance, conversations on education underscored the need for joint programs, building on Pakistan’s longstanding support for Afghan students. As of 2025, hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugee children are enrolled in schools and universities in Pakistan, fostering long-term people-to-people bonds and human capital development.
Culturally, the dialogue highlighted shared heritage as a foundation for trust, advocating exchanges in arts, literature, and traditions to counter narratives of division. Economically, participants emphasized the importance of boosting bilateral trade and cooperation, noting the resilience of economic ties despite the challenges. In the first half of 2025, trade volumes between Pakistan and Afghanistan reached nearly $1 billion, with Pakistan exporting $712 million in goods (primarily food items, textiles, and machinery) and importing $277 million (mainly fruits, vegetables, and minerals), demonstrating potential for further growth through enhanced connectivity and reduced barriers.
On counter-extremism, discussions addressed cross-border security concerns, such as preventing the use of Afghan soil for militancy, while promoting collaborative strategies rooted in mutual respect.
On the humanitarian front, Pakistan’s hosting of Afghan refugees exemplifies the enduring bonds between people. As of mid-2025, Pakistan continues to shelter over 2 million Afghans, including approximately 1.4 million registered refugees, providing education, healthcare, and livelihoods despite economic pressures. This figure reflects ongoing dynamics, with over 500,000 Afghans having returned from Pakistan as of early September 2025, highlighting the need for collaborative repatriation frameworks as discussed in the dialogue.
Academically, Towards Unity and Trust aligns with peacebuilding models, such as those proposed by Johan Galtung, who distinguishes between “negative peace” (the absence of conflict) and “positive peace” (the presence of justice and cooperation). By focusing on the latter through discussions on inclusivity and shared development, the event provides a blueprint for future course of action. Integrating these insights into strategies could amplify benefits in education and the economy, potentially increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion annually within a decade through improved trust and cooperation. Linking this to Pak-Afghan relations, the dialogue’s emphasis on inclusive platforms could mitigate strains by complementing official engagements. Ultimately, such civil society and academic endeavors not only illuminate pathways for state-to-state harmony but also nurture the grassroots foundations essential for enduring peace, proving that trust built through dialogue can elevate relations to new heights of mutual prosperity.
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