Foreign Policy

Everyone is well aware of Pakistan’s troubled relationship with the Afghan government, and its relationship, that has dated decades now, with the Taliban... What [Pakistan] would probably have preferred is a negotiated political settlement with the Taliban in a position of power, but perhaps not the only actor on the stage.

Pakistan is being quite careful about its stance. Pakistan will not be the first to recognize the Taliban given the kind of negative status that gave them in the ’96–2001 time frame. It’s not going to stick its neck out.

The Taliban's rise is not at all a simple outcome for Pakistan. Taliban rule in Afghanistan will probably have serious adverse security repercussions.