The relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan never remained cordial despite being Muslim neighbours and could not succeed in seventy-five years to mend differences due to the time old claims of Afghanistan over the territories of Pakistan. Anew rival neighbour was not favourable to Pakistan on its western border beside India on its eastern border. Subsequently, Pakistan formulated policies for countering Afghan claims over the territories of Pakistan and for stopping India from instigating Afghans against it. Later on, to this policy was added the support of its favourites among the Afghan Mujahedeen (Islamic holy warriors) during the government of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto as to outweigh the nationalist Afghans which continued till the emergence of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Then Pakistan dreamt of a friendly Islamist Taliban government in Afghanistan and an access to the Central Asian Markets which proved short-lived. The Taliban failed to bring peace to Afghanistan and caused apprehensions for regional and foreign powers. Finally, America attacked Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban regime for hosting Al-Qaeda and its leader, Osama bin Laden. Pakistan suddenly joined the American war against terrorism under pressure but the successive Afghan governments remained suspicious of Pakistan for supporting the Taliban. Although Pakistan suffered a lot in the war against terrorism and launched several operations but it could not win the goodwill of Afghan government. However, America recognized Pakistan’s active diplomacy and made it as a mediator in its talks with Taliban who soon recaptured government in Kabul. The current research work endeavours to answer the question that what were the major policy formulations of Pakistan towards Afghanistan during the seventy-five years of neighbourhood?

Keywords: Policy Formulations; Durand Line, Islamists, Central Asia, Taliban, War on Terror