With several NATO countries withdrawing troops in Afghanistan and the United States preparing to leave in 2014, Afghanistan is now looking to make itself some new friends as it prepares for life without US and NATO assistance. Afghanistan has recently made a concerted effort to make any ally out of India, an effort supported and encouraged by the United States they are seen by the U.S. as a “stabilizing power in South Asia”[1].  The relationship between Afghanistan and India seems to be flourishing as India has “reached an agreement last year for some senior afghan officers to receive training in India”[2].

Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai has even ‘invited’ India filmmakers to shoot their movies promising “safety and provision of logistical support to the filmmakers”[3]. However, while building bridges with India is a step in the right direction, its relationship with Pakistan that probably should be on the top of the country’s agenda with regards to its security. While there is strain between the countries,  Pakistan and Afghanistan do communicate with each other and have worked together to establish peace as both countries “have… appealed to Taliban-led insurgent groups to participate in the Afghan political reconciliation process aimed at ending the war… asking the militants to sever links with al-Qaida and other international terror networks”[4].

This process is important as both countries suffer from instability caused by well-organized terrorist groups (Pakistan) and insurgency (Afghanistan) that both support and harbour each other.  A major indicator that both countries interests lay in peace can be found in the recent release by Pakistan of “a number of high profile Afghan Taliban prisoners from its jails”[5]. However Afghanistan seek the release of Abdul Ghani Baradar the “Taliban's No. 2 and one of their most respected field operatives” who is seen as the “man who…could bring (Taliban) commanders to the negotiation table” after a breakdown in negotiations earlier this year[6].

 While both countries relations with each other are strained due to Afghanistan suspicions about Pakistan’s military relationship with terrorist groups located near Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan, Afghanistan, as well as the U.S., “recognize Pakistan is crucial for ant peace pact with the Taliban to succeed”[7]. In sum, Afghanistan has already made steps in the right direction by dealing with Pakistan   despite obvious suspicions and has built bridges with India. However, Afghanistan’s cons outweigh it pros as long standing problems such as the lack of economic development and the treatment of women still persists.