Pakistan’s actions in Afghanistan may hurt its US ties
Monday, February 22, 2021
Significance
It believes the ‘intra-Afghan’ peace talks can only succeed if President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani’s government is replaced by an interim administration. It is supporting renewed offensives by various insurgent groups in Afghanistan in a bid to pressure Ghani and show Washington the cost of reneging on its promised troop withdrawal.
Impacts
- Islamabad will point to its role in the Afghan peace process in trying to convince key partners Beijing and Riyadh of its regional clout.
- Pakistan’s relations with Iran and Russia could suffer, as neither believes Islamabad has its interests in Afghanistan in mind.
- India-Pakistan enmity will deepen, even if Islamabad fails to achieve its aim of destroying Indian influence in Afghanistan.