A recent border clash between Afghan and Pakistani forces on the shared border near Barmal district in Paktika province has come as a surprise incident amidst efforts to improve mutual relations between the two countries. According to media reports, the Afghan Foreign Ministry Affairs summoned Pakistani ambassador to Kabul to convey Afghanistan’s protest over the incident which left one Afghan soldier dead and another wounded. Pakistan has also confirmed that two Pakistani soldiers were wounded in the border skirmish. The incident is coming while the two countries are trying to improve bilateral relations and boost cooperation over Afghanistan’s peace talks with the Taliban. The border skirmish between the Afghan and Pakistani forces suggest that tensions arising from isolated security and cross-border incidents may affect the relations between the two countries at a time when there is need for enhanced cooperation between Kabul and Islamabad.

The border skirmish between Afghan and Pakistani forces is coming after remarkable improvement of relations between the two countries since formation of the National Unity Government in Afghanistan. Afghan and Pakistani forces had also engaged in border clashes and cross-border shelling in the past that had affected the relations between the two countries. However, the recent incident comes at a time of improved relations between Kabul and Islamabad. Despite the warning that the incident may damage bilateral relations, the two countries well realizes the need for sustainably improving relations and building on achievements made since last year. As in the past, cross-border incursions and other security issues are potentially harmful for the relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the two countries need to remain committed to respecting each other’s sovereignty and national interests.

There are unprecedented common threats to interests of both countries and to the two nations’ commitment to improve ties and work for bringing peace and security in both countries. In recent months, the Islamic State group has been making inroads in Afghanistan, posing unprecedented threat to national security of the country. Islamabad also considers the Islamic State as a threat not only for Afghanistan but also for Pakistan’s security and national interests. Both Pakistan and Afghanistan share a common ground on the need for fighting the newly emerging Islamic State threat. Afghanistan has made combating the Islamic State a top priority, establishing a dedicated elite unit under the country’s National Directorate for Security to effectively combat the emerging threat. As a potential threat to security of both countries, the Islamic State group is promoting a new form of militancy and extremism in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Given the shared threat, Kabul and Islamabad need not to be deterred by unexpected challenges affecting the cooperative relations between the two countries.

Afghanistan has been facing a bold Taliban offensive in recent months. In recent months there have been intense fighting in northern and southern parts of the country and the Taliban has made gains in Jalriz district of Wardak, a province neighboring the capital. The Taliban launched their deadly spring offensive while Afghanistan and Pakistan had made considerable progresses in reaching a common ground over the peace efforts in Afghanistan. While the Afghan army and police forces have efficiently combated the Taliban in this seasonal fighting, a peace deal with the Taliban still requires cooperation from Pakistan. Given that Afghanistan and Pakistan has reached to a great extent a common ground for peace in Afghanistan, the two countries need to remain committed to working for not only resolving the Afghan conflict and bringing the Taliban to table of negotiations but also for bringing peace and security in both countries. Same as Afghanistan, Pakistan has suffered militancy and extremism, and the two countries need to sustainably work for peace in both countries.

The recent border skirmish between Afghan and Pakistani forces is coming as a test for the two countries’ resolve and determination to sustainably improve relations and work together for resolving common threats. For sustainable improved relations, Pakistan needs to respect Afghanistan’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, while Afghanistan needs to realize that Islamabad’s cooperation is key for bringing peace and stability in the country. Afghanistan and Pakistan has now a shared objective for long-term cooperation on mutually-benefiting issues including peace in Afghanistan. Kabul and Islamabad will be able to progress towards that objective only if they remain committed to improving bilateral relations and resolving challenges in the mutual relations.

There are increasing skepticisms in Afghanistan over Pakistan’s commitment to its pledges for cooperating with the Afghan government over peace talks with the Taliban. There has been no concrete action from Islamabad in supporting the Afghan-led peace efforts. There are still optimisms for a genuine will in Islamabad to help the peace efforts in Afghanistan. Islamabad has no option but to deliver on its promises for helping peace and stability in Afghanistan if it is serious in its declared friendly relations with Afghanistan. Since last year, Islamabad and Kabul have been able to manage low-level tensions arising from cross-border incidents; the two countries need to be so in the future as well. Isolated cross-border incidents not only damage the bilateral relations, but also it should help the two countries to reaffirm their determination for resolving mutual and common challenges.