Afghan mistrust

One wonders why Pak-Afghan relations usually remain tense. Both countries share common interests. We have always been generous when it comes to dealing with Afghanistan. Millions of dollars of legal and illegal trade is carried out between the two countries.
There are no restrictions on the Afghans to cross over to our country to earn a living and people along both sides of the Durand Line are ethnically related. Our seaports are available for Afghan imports and exports. Afghanistan is dependent on us for many essential consumables. Why, despite all this common ground, does Afghanistan prefer India over us? Is it because of Indian policies or are we unable to match India?
Imtiaz Akhter
Rawalpindi

*****
This refers to the news report, ‘Pakistan sending messages of war, claims Ghani’ (August 11). It seems our relations with Afghanistan have again hit rock bottom. The allegations hurled by the Afghan president are unfounded and should be dispelled. In fact, the reality is quite the opposite. We are facing terrorism from across the Afghan border.
Afghanistan should stop these terrorists from waging a war against our territory instead of blaming us. We are a peace-loving nation and engaged in the war against terrorism. Operation Zarb-e-Azb is in full swing. Our efforts for peace should not be taken lightly. Afghanistan should address its internal problems and try to solve its differences with the Taliban.
Javaid Bashir
Islamabad