Pakistan’s Old Game: Blaming Afghanistan to Prepare for Trump’s Return

As the specter of Donald Trump’s return to the White House looms large, Pakistan’s leaders have predictably dusted off their favorite political diversion: scapegoating Afghanistan. In a calculated and dangerous ploy, Islamabad has escalated its attacks on its neighbor under the pretext of pursuing Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. Simultaneously, it has begun rounding up and deporting Afghan refugees, while intensifying a propaganda campaign that blames Afghanistan for Pakistan’s economic and security crises. These actions lay bare Islamabad’s inability to govern effectively and its willingness to manipulate international perceptions for its own gain.

Pakistan’s economic reality is one of unmitigated disaster. Inflation has soared to record-breaking levels, peaking at 38% in May 2023 and remaining stubbornly high at 30% as of January 2024. The Pakistani Rupee continues to spiral downward, rendering essential imports such as food and fuel prohibitively expensive. Foreign reserves—a critical economic lifeline—fell to a perilously low $4 billion by mid-2023, leaving the nation on the verge of default. With a debt-to-GDP ratio exceeding 70% and interest payments consuming more than half of government revenues, Pakistan’s fiscal house is crumbling under the weight of decades of mismanagement and corruption.

Instead of addressing these glaring issues through structural reforms, Pakistan’s leadership has chosen to deflect blame onto Afghanistan. This scapegoating serves as a convenient distraction from the country’s chronic trade deficits and crippling debt, both symptoms of systemic corruption and policy failures. Predictably, Islamabad has trotted out the tired narrative that Afghanistan is the root cause of terrorism and regional instability, a claim as baseless as it is politically expedient.

On the security front, Pakistan’s problems are equally dire. Despite a massive investment in its military, Islamabad has failed to rein in the resurgence of domestic terror groups like the TTP. These groups, many of which were nurtured by Pakistan’s own policies of fostering extremist proxies, now pose an existential threat to the state itself. Yet, rather than acknowledge this internal failure, Pakistan’s leaders have doubled down on the narrative that Afghanistan is providing safe havens for militants. This conveniently ignores Islamabad’s decades-long history of destabilizing Afghanistan through its support for the Taliban and other extremist factions.

Adding to its diversions, Pakistan is now attempting to forge regional alliances against the Taliban, including courting Tajikistan for an anti-Taliban partnership. Reports indicate that Islamabad has reached out to Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, signaling its desperation to appear proactive on the international stage. However, this move raises serious questions about Islamabad’s sincerity. Is this outreach a genuine effort to combat extremism, or is it another cynical ploy to manipulate regional dynamics while continuing its duplicitous policies?

With Trump’s return to power, Pakistan’s blame game has taken on new urgency. The upcoming U.S. president’s transactional approach to foreign policy and his “America First” ethos leave little room for Pakistan’s habitual double-dealing. Islamabad’s leaders are acutely aware that their country’s strategic relevance to Washington hinges on perpetuating the illusion of being a “victim” of Afghan instability. By framing Afghanistan as a source of terrorism, Pakistan hopes to secure U.S. aid and diplomatic leverage, even as its own actions continue to destabilize the region.

Afghanistan, already grappling with the challenges of Taliban rule, including international isolation, a lack of economic assistance, and widespread humanitarian crises, is once again being exploited as a pawn in Pakistan’s geopolitical games. Islamabad’s attempts to deflect blame not only undermine Afghan sovereignty but also perpetuate the cycle of violence and mistrust that has plagued the region for decades. This strategy is as reckless as it is shortsighted, endangering both nations while eroding any hope for lasting peace.

Pakistan’s leaders must abandon their destructive habit of externalizing blame. The country’s financial collapse and security breakdown are direct results of decades of corruption, incompetence, and misguided policies. Instead of scapegoating Afghanistan, Islamabad must confront its own failures and commit to meaningful reforms. These should include curbing military overreach, fostering economic diversification, and dismantling the extremist infrastructure it has so recklessly cultivated.

The international community, particularly the United States, must also see through Pakistan’s duplicity. Any aid or support to Islamabad should be conditional on genuine progress in addressing its internal crises and ceasing its destabilizing activities in Afghanistan. Trump or no Trump, the world cannot afford to indulge Pakistan’s destructive behavior any longer.

The time for excuses is over. Pakistan’s leaders must face the consequences of their actions and take responsibility for their nation’s future. Blaming Afghanistan will not solve Pakistan’s problems—it will only deepen them, dragging the entire region into further chaos. The world is watching, and it’s high time Islamabad’s old games came to an end.

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