Afghanistan- Pakistan Relations

Hey guys!
I recently finished up a research paper on Afghanistan- Pakistan relations for the class 2020 (in a bit of an attempt to save the world) but also a survey of the conflict between the two countries. In quelling the tensions in Afghanistan, the various strong disagreements between Pakistan and Afghanistan will have to be sorted out. For one, Pakistan and Afghanistan constantly bicker about the demarcated border between the two countries, the Durand Line. In Waziristan, a province in northern Pakistan, the Pakistani army is keeping very loose border security between Afghanistan and Pakistan. As a consequence, many Taliban militants are seeping into Pakistan, where Pakistan is harboring them and perhaps training them as well. This fact is detrimental to the security of American soldiers in the region as well as the path to peace between the two countries. Moreover, the territory of Pashtunistan is a vital bone of contention between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Afghans have been imploring for a vote proposed to Pashtun leaders to make Pashtunistan a sovereign nation, though Pakistan is reluctant to give up an inch of Pakistani territory to supply any benefits to Afghanistan. There are many other facets to the conflict between the two countries, but these two instances represent the main cornerstones of the 50 year conflict. To solve the conflict, I proposed that the democratization of Pakistan was the most integral element in the solution process. In fact, a transition to democracy would prospectively dampen hostile relations with India and solve the border issue of the Durand Line. For example, the military leaders of Pakistan have constantly supported the Taliban to counteract the weight of Pashtun nationalism. Moreover, Pakistan has vacillated on its support of the Taliban, constantly either supporting or decrying the influence of the Taliban to win favor with America or damage India. I believe that this multi- faceted issue rests partially on the prospective democratization of Pakistan, though the establishment of such a government seems almost too idealistic given the fact that Pakistan's military seems solidly entrenched in the workings of government.
Therefore, in this upcoming project on Afghanistan, I urge our group to consider Pakistani strategy and benefit in our debates and eventual solutions, as the two countries are intertwined to a degree where a fracture in one can totally distort the other. That is to say that the stakes are extremely high regarding the two countries, and every care must be taken to resolve the Pakistani- Afghan hostility while mainly focusing on building a prosperously peaceful Afghanistan.

- Nikhil