Afghanistan Issue in Pakistan Foreign Policy from Constructive Perspective

The foundations of Pakistan s Afghanistan policy have been to prevent the formation of an independent Great Pashtunistan that includes the Pashtun ethnic population in Pakistan and geographically to the northwest of Pakistan and to reduce the influence and interference of India on Afghanistan. In this context, the main problem for Pakistan has been Pashtun nationalism originating from Afghanistan and the indirect problem has been the existence of India. In other words, although Pakistan s policy actions towards Afghanistan seem to be based on India, we can describe this relationship structure as the mutual struggle of Afghanistan s Great Pashtunistan ideal and Pakistan s strategic depth strategy. In this study, the position of Afghanistan in Pakistan s foreign policy will be analyzed, in particular the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan states, which define themselves as the Islamic Republic as their political identity. In the study, analysis will be made within the framework of Constructivist Foreign Policy Analysis.