Impact on India continues...

At this stage, there is no clarity on how the Taliban movement will unfold in the future. A number of former Taliban officials have acknowledged that the Taliban regime in the 1990s remained cashstrapped on account of being internationally isolated and overwhelmingly dependent on Pakistan. This is a situation, which the group would probably be keen to avoid in the future.

The Mullah Omar-led Quetta Shura has consistently resisted and

resented Pakistan’s attempts to control it. The fissures between the

two have further broadened post-9/11 due to Pakistan’s involvement in the US-led Global War on Terror, which was considered by the Taliban as a complete betrayal. According to a Talib, “We are angrier today at Pakistan than America. Pakistan is playing a double game, telling the Muslims that we are looking after your interests … but actually they are working for America.

Thousands of Taliban are in jails in Pakistan even today.” Thus, it

is likely that if the Quetta Shura was to secure power in some form

or the other in Afghanistan post-2014, it could be keen to seek

more avenues for engagement with the international community.

To be continued...