Paper short abstract:

The US-led NATO alliance has announced, albeit vaguely, 2014 as the year of withdrawal from Afghanistan. With the decade-long war coming to an inconclusive end, Afghanistan presents the greatest challenge to the international community & South Asian countries, particularly Pakistan. The coming years will see dynamics & changes for the region & preparation for this must begin now.

Paper long abstract:

The US-led NATO alliance has announced, albeit vaguely, 2014 as the year of withdrawal from Afghanistan. With the decade-long war coming to an inconclusive end, the transition process has begun and Afghan security forces are increasingly being given more responsibility and assume leadership for security in the country. However, with no clear signs of progress & stability, Afghanistan presents the greatest challenge to the international community and regional countries, particularly Pakistan. The coming years will see dynamics & changes for which preparation must begin now.

In such circumstances, the future for the countries in the region is going to depend on how they frame their relationships and cooperate in the face of further conflicts. Pakistan, given its proximity to Afghanistan & its involvement in the proverbial war against terrorism, is perhaps the most important regional player. Its shaky alliance with the US over the last ten years symbolizes what the war effort has been all about; with the endgame in Afghanistan however, it faces significant challenges, particularly in its tribal belt, that may become insurmountable if they are not addressed with a focus on regional stability. In this context, the war in Afghanistan has added a new dimension to Pakistan's relationship with regional countries & the legitimate role of all regional countries in Afghanistan, as well as justified concerns of how they will be affected with the changing dynamics of war, with the interests of regional countries (India, Russia, China & Iran) seemingly envisaging different futures for Afghanistan.