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<JournalTitle>ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES</JournalTitle>
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<EISSN/>
<Volume-Issue>Volume 6 Issue 3</Volume-Issue>
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<IssueTopic>Multidisciplinary</IssueTopic>
<IssueLanguage>English</IssueLanguage>
<Season>Dec 2025-Jan 2026</Season>
<SpecialIssue>N</SpecialIssue>
<SupplementaryIssue>N</SupplementaryIssue>
<IssueOA>Y</IssueOA>
<PubDate>
<Year>2026</Year>
<Month>01</Month>
<Day>31</Day>
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<ArticleType>Regional/Country Studies</ArticleType>
<ArticleTitle>Investigating the factors of divergence in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations during the Second period of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan</ArticleTitle>
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<ArticleLanguage>English</ArticleLanguage>
<ArticleOA>Y</ArticleOA>
<FirstPage>463</FirstPage>
<LastPage>479</LastPage>
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<Author>
<FirstName>Ehsanullah</FirstName>
<LastName>Ehsan</LastName>
<AuthorLanguage>English</AuthorLanguage>
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<CorrespondingAuthor>N</CorrespondingAuthor>
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<DOI>10.47362/EJSSS.2026.6305 </DOI>
<Abstract>Abstract Afghanistan and Pakistan, as neighboring states, share deep historical, linguistic, ethnic, cultural, and religious commonalities. However, since the establishment of Pakistan in 1947, bilateral relations between the two countries have remained largely tense and unstable. Following the return of the Islamic Emirate to power in August 2021, relations initially showed signs of improvement but subsequently deteriorated due to multiple factors. The purpose of this study is to examine the key factors contributing to divergence in Afghanistan__ampersandsignndash;Pakistan relations during the second period of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The central research question seeks to identify the divergent factors influencing the bilateral relationship in this period. The findings reveal that several issues have played a decisive role in driving divergence in Afghanistan__ampersandsignndash;Pakistan relations. Chief among these is the contentious Durand Line, which Afghanistan has consistently refused to recognize it as a legitimate boundary. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan issue has further aggravated distrust, as Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of providing sanctuary to the group, while Afghanistan denies the allegations. The presence of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, trade and transit challenges and Afghanistan__ampersandsignrsquo;s growing engagement with India are another factors that intensified the divergence in Afghanistan__ampersandsignndash;Pakistan relations. This qualitative research employs a descriptive__ampersandsignndash;analytical approach, drawing on data collected from credible academic sources such as books and peer-reviewed journal articles, following a bibliographic research design.</Abstract>
<AbstractLanguage>English</AbstractLanguage>
<Keywords>Keywords: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Islamic Emirate, Foreign Policy, Bilateral Relations.</Keywords>
<URLs>
<Abstract>https://www.ejsss.net.in/ubijournal-v1copy/journals/abstract.php?article_id=16110&title=Investigating the factors of divergence in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations during the Second period of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan</Abstract>
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<References>
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<ReferenceslastPage>19</ReferenceslastPage>
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</References>
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