CSS Notes > Discuss revival of Taliban regime in Afghanistan and its impact on Pakistan.
Introduction
‘Graveyard of Super-powers’ – the infamous title for Afghanistan has yet once again proved its factual basis. Following the failure of Soviet efforts to subdue Kabul in 1980s, now the Washington has been forced to take a shameful flight out of Afghanistan after fighting a twenty years long war on terrorism.
American Invasion of Afghanistan – A Brief Background
The United States and its allies under the banner of NATO stormed over Kabul in the year 2001 following the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The invasion primarily and apparently aimed at eradicating Al-Qaeda – a terrorist outfit based in Afghanistan. But, the Taliban government of that time never accepted Washington’s rule over their homeland. They fought for twenty years along with keeping control over almost half of the Afghan land. Finally, it forced the US out without any proper victory or conclusion of war in Afghanistan.
Revival of the Taliban Regime
As soon as the US fled Afghanistan, the Taliban took over the country. The American trained Afghan Security Forces proved to be a disaster. They completely failed to check the advancement of Taliban. Ultimately, within weeks of the US withdrawal, Taliban established their government. The revival of Taliban regime is a result of American failure to assess their strength and misjudging the actual worth of Ashraf Ghani’s administration.
Impact of Taliban Regime on Pakistan
Pakistan has been a frontline ally of the US-led forces in war against terrorism. But, during that long period of twenty years, Pakistan has somehow managed to keep reasonable ties with the Taliban which Washington names as the ‘double game’ played by Islamabad. This policy has proved fruitful in sense that the Taliban have taken control of Afghanistan. Still, the Taliban regime has posed for Pakistan multiple new challenges which are explained as following:
- Taliban regime has proved to be not as friendly as Pakistan might have expected.
- There have been concerns of the Taliban government about the Durand Line and that is something that Pakistan was not expecting from this regime.
- Pakistan is facing a new kind of international pressure to deal with the Afghanistan that is politically and economically instable under the new Taliban regime.
- Due to revival of the Taliban regime, the local militant and terrorist factions are re-establishing themselves in Pakistan which poses a serious security threat for the country.
- Under positive note, Taliban regime will help prevent use of Afghan land by India against Pakistan.
- Pakistan has sought strategic benefits in terms of avoiding a two-front war with a friendly government in Kabul.
- Another positive impact can be regarding trade with the Central Asian Republic through Afghanistan.
Conclusion
The impacts of Taliban regime on Pakistan can be concluded in terms of challenges as well as opportunities. To overcome challenges, Islamabad needs to settle its basic issues with Kabul. To utilize opportunities, Pakistan has to help Kabul towards political and economic stability with the help of international powers. Taliban regime can be in Pakistan’s interests only when Kabul is free from civil warfare, terrorism, and international interference.