Pakistan-Taliban relations

The Taliban have proved unresponsive to Pakistan's security concerns, resulting in mounting tensions between the two.

Pakistan is leveraging the border as a tool of pressure to secure its political interests vis-a-vis Afghanistan.

The famously pro-Taliban politician is making a visit to Kabul at a tense time in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations.

At first, a Taliban victory in Afghanistan was considered synonymous with Pakistan’s victory. But disappointed hopes on both sides now have the neighbors at loggerheads.

The Taliban may not be willing to crack down beyond a point, as that could provide the group's arch-foe, the ISKP, with a propaganda boost.

Pakistani commandos killed 25 TTP militants in an operation to rescue hostages at a counterterrorism center in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Economic isolation and privation such as Afghanistan has experienced since the Taliban takeover only feed authoritarianism and extremism, Pakistan’s foreign minister said. 

"Yes, there are no women yet," Pakistani Foreign Minister Qureshi said of the Taliban government. "But let us let the situation evolve."

Infighting within the Taliban government has the potential to spiral into conflicts across Afghanistan, with spillover implications for Pakistan.

Already, there are worrying signs that the Taliban are inclined to ignore Islamabad's most pressing concerns.

Islamabad is apprehensive that a Taliban government will not act against TTP sanctuaries in Afghanistan.