Part 6/14:
Historically, Pakistan has played a paradoxical role in Afghan affairs. During the Cold War, it supported Afghan mujahideen against the Soviets, fostering a climate that eventually led to the rise of the Taliban in the 1990s. After 9/11, Pakistan joined the US-led coalition against terrorism, only to witness the Taliban’s return in 2021 after the American withdrawal—an outcome many in Pakistan viewed as betrayal. Pakistan’s confidence in Afghanistan's Taliban leaders waned, as they felt abandoned and believed the Taliban owed them allegiance. Yet, official policy remains that Pakistan expects the Taliban to suppress TTP, a demand Islamabad laments has gone unfulfilled.