Pakistan Foreign Minister’s statement at the Munich Security Conference reflects the mindset of Pakistan’s security establishment. Minister Bhutto urged the international community to engage with recognition to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. The reason the international community has so far refrained from giving legitimacy to the Taliban regime is because the Taliban promised inclusion of various political forces in Afghanistan to formalize the structure of governance. Taliban is citing the reason that because of extensive penetration of Daesh in the region, it would take some time before it can initiate intra-Afghan political dialogue.

Afghan Taliban is rehabilitating the Pakistan Taliban (TTP). Kabul’s logic is to use TTP to force Pakistan into making concessions. Taliban wants Pakistan to blackmail the world for more aid to Kabul. They understand that Pakistan is in no position to launch an offensive in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province and eliminate the TTP strongholds.

Taliban is forcing the Pakistan Army to lobby internationally for more aid & assistance to Afghanistan or else it will keep bleeding Pakistan. The final decision maker of Pakistan’s destiny has been the Army and hence, it is forcing their own blessed Government to go out into the World and lobby for Afghanistan.

Pakistan understands that the dire economic crisis is compelling the security establishment from fighting the terrorists. The only solution for Rawalpindi / Islamabad right now is to concede to Taliban in Afghanistan and either force the TTP back across the Durand Line into Afghanistan or force them to enter the political mainstream. Acts of terrorism blessed by Pakistan over decades are coming back to haunt them at a time when they are actually questioning their existence.