The paper reflects on Pakistan's complex security situation and the causes of current challenges that Pakistan is facing due to vacillating foreign policies. It also reviews the role of factors that contributed towards the instability of the country. After Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan involved in a proxy war and trained Mujahideen to liberate Afghanistan. In 1980's sectarianism floored the state, and since it has rooted in Pakistani society. The country brokered several Post-Soviet peace agreements between different militaristic groups in Afghanistan but in vain. Finally, it recognized Taliban for the cause of peace (though temporary) on its Western border. After 9/11 the country had to reluctantly take a "U" turn on its Afghan policy under immense US pressure. This swing of policy opened a Pandora-box for the country i.e. terrorism, Jihadist, ethnicity, sectarianism, economic and political instability in Pakistan. In this state of affairs corruption, deteriorating law and order situation, political instability and economic fragility, variables of internal security, act as key factors in a peaceful solution of conflicts.

Insecure borders always provide passage to criminals for their institution. Borders depict the geographical limits of a particular state and determine its power and functioning in a region. Internal security of the country cannot be assured until its boundaries are not regularized. Countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan having numerous social, economic, and security challenges serve as an avenue for traffickers. A disputed border is waning the bilateral relations and promoting the narco-economy in the Af-Pak region. The Afghan opiate is also serving as solid financial support for the Taliban and other terrorist groups. The existence of persistent mistrust and blame game policy is contagiously affecting the lives of ordinary people. The political leadership of Afghanistan and Pakistan should learn a lesson from their past to protect their nationals from economic disasters and smugglers. In addition, the nature of this study is qualitative. Both primary and secondary data prove the main agenda of this study by highlighting the deep and robust linkage of the border dispute in the spread of drug trafficking in both countries. Moreover, there is a dire need for Pak-Afghan border management to provide shelter to the locals and the legal economy. For gaining mutual economic benefits, both states can utilize borders by articulating the mechanism for border regulation.

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