Pakistan’s Strategic Depth Policy in Afghanistan: Origin, Evolution and Practical Manifestations

Abstract

Pakistan's strategic depth policy in Afghanistan has been in the national and strategic discourse for many decades, but it has remained less prevalent in academic and official circles. The policy came into widespread deliberation during Taliban rule in Afghanistan and after the 9/11 incident. The policy of strategic depth dates back to Britain's security arrangements in Afghanistan in the 19th and 20th centuries. Britain's security strategy primarily focused on either directly controlling Afghanistan or establishing a client regime there to safeguard British India's heartland from Russian advances through Afghanistan. In the same vein, Pakistan, being a security-sensitive country, endeavored to have a friendly government in Kabul to have a secure western border and concentrate only on the eastern front with India. Pakistan's strategic depth policy in Afghanistan is mainly Indian-centric, in addition to contentious border issues. Pakistan's strategic culture contains well-defined determinants based on historical experiences, rivalries, and perceptions of adversaries. Afghan irredentist claims, ethnic tensions, Indian vows to undo Pakistan, and Indian influence in Afghanistan are the major components of Pakistan's strategic culture. Pakistan's strategic depth policy, an integral part of its strategic culture, aims to counter the emerging threats from Afghanistan and maneuver to establish a friendly regime there. Pakistan’s strategic depth policy took practical manifestation in the 1980s and 1990s, but proved to have a big strategic fallout after 9/11. Despite a strategic shift in the post-9/11 scenario, Pakistan's strategic depth policy has gravely deteriorated its internal security. It is now the essence of time for Pakistan policymakers to convert strategic depth into economic depth and should explore the economic potential of central Asia through Afghanistan.