Pakistan's newly elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (C) arrives to inspect the guard of honor during a ceremony at the prime minister's residence after being sworn-in, in Islamabad (REUTERS/Mian Khursheed).
Opinion
Pakistan, Taliban and the Afghan Quagmire
August 24, 2013, Bruce Riedel
Pakistan and its intelligence service have more influence over the Afghan Taliban than any other country or intelligence organization, writes Bruce Riedel. However, Pakistan's influence is not complete, and whether the country could persuade the Taliban to agree on a political settlement in Afghanistan is unclear at best, Riedel explains.