Report: Canada’s Afghan-Pakistan Peace Efforts Flawed

Canada sparks dialogue but lacks the influence to address the underlying border issues in the region.

A joint study between the United States and NATO reveals just how bad things are along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Despite Canada’s four-year efforts to facilitate dialogue in what is now called the “Afghanistan Pakistan Co-operation Process,” the report highlights the persistent problems along the Durand Line. NATO and the U.S. believe the distrust between the two countries caused the November 25th air strike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. While Canada has been applauded for its organization of border workshops, meetings, and training of border agents, other Canadian initiatives in the region have failed to address the root of the border problems, including the fact that neither can agree on precisely where the border should be.