Pak Afghan Draft Agreement of 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13858980

الملخص

The draft Agreement of 1976 represented a tentative move towards settling long standing disputes between Pakistan and Afghanistan.  Initiated by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Afghanistan’s President Sardar Daud, the negotiations focused on settling key issues, including the recognition of the Durand Line as the official border and the cessation of hostile propaganda. Despite progress made during Bhutto’s visit to Kabul and Daud’s reciprocal visit to Pakistan, the subsequent political upheavals, including Bhutto’s ousting hindered the long-term success of the agreement. This article focuses on the main challenges in achieving lasting peace and diplomatic resolution between Pakistan and Afghanistan, especially considering their history of conflicts, mutual distrust and external influences. It also looks at how these issues have impacted the stability of their agreements. Additionally, the article explores the potential of strategic dialogues and efforts to improve international relations.