Pakistan-Afghanistan relations: Cricket conflict, bad turn in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations after Durand Line dispute

When Kabul fell into the hands of the Taliban, many in Pakistan rejoiced and saw it as an opportunity to strengthen ties between the two Muslim countries. However, the relationship took a bad turn. 

Relations between the governments and peoples of the two South Asian neighbors have soured to an unprecedented level. As the Afghan Diaspora Network reports, it can be seen as a bloody battle between security forces and politicians, with cricket fans clashing in Sharjah. 

Recently, during the cricket match between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the Asia Cup 2022, the cricket fans of both the countries clashed and damaged the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. 

According to Pakistani legislator Mohsin Dawar, Afghans became angry after Pakistani cricket fans hurled racial slurs at them, the Afghan Diaspora Network reported. So, when Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka in the final, Afghanistan celebrated in the streets. 

"The Afghans have problems with Pakistan because of Pakistan's decades-old strategic depth policy and the audacity to intervene in Afghanistan," Dawar said.

Although Afghanistan have lost their matches with India and Sri Lanka, there were no clashes that clearly indicate the growing anger of the Afghans against the Pakistanis. 

Despite Pakistan playing a key role in the Taliban's withdrawal, the new government in Kabul continues to blame Islamabad and its military for causing problems for Afghanistan, reports the Afghan Diaspora Network. 

When Taliban forces were occupying Kabul and US forces were leaving Afghanistan, former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan said that the Afghans had broken "the shackles of slavery" and that the Pakistani people called it a victory for the brotherhood of Islam and radicalization. On the road, watching as the defeat of rival IndiaCelebrated.However, the Afghan population remained wary of Pakistan, as the general opinion in the country blames Islamabad for its past sufferings. The Afghan Diaspora Network reported that the situation was deteriorating steadily. 

Afghanistan has objected to Pakistan unilaterally erecting fencing along the international border as differences related to the Durand Line are yet to be resolved. The Afghan Diaspora Network reported that several people were killed in firing from both sides.

Recently, several people from both sides were killed after Pakistan tried to increase the military infrastructure along the border. The Pakistani military has said that the fence on the Durand Line will be completed, saying "the blood of our martyrs was shed" to erect it. This means that tensions between the two countries will continue to rise. 

Pakistan has long been accused of being a hotbed of global terrorism. Many security experts blamed Pakistan for keeping the Taliban alive, while the US spent two decades trying to eliminate the terrorist force. In the process, the northwestern regions of Pakistan became a stronghold for Taliban-backed organizations.

As bilateral relations between the two neighbours, have taken a bad turn, Islamabad is becoming increasingly concerned about the rise of the Pakistan Taliban. This has prompted Pakistan to launch air strikes on Taliban strongholds and on Afghan soil.

In addition, the two countries have been repeatedly exchanging views on the presence of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) chief and UN-banned terrorist Masood Azhar, who is on the gray list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for Pakistan. Getting out has become important.

These are nothing but a reflection of the growing enmity between the two countries. According to the report of the Afghan Diaspora Network, Pakistan's long-term policy of the Islamabad regime in Kabul has failed, giving a ray of hope to Afghanistan and the Afghan people.