As China, Pakistan weigh recognising Taliban, experts warn long-term losses, U.S. ire

“For Pakistan, it was to keep India out of Afghanistan by helping the Taliban.”

As China, Pakistan mull a joint strategy to push for a global recognition of the Taliban regime in war-torn Afghanistan to further their interests, experts have warned the “all-weather allies” of long-term losses, especially a blowback effect from the U.S. which may turn its ire on Beijing and Islamabad to avenge its Afghan imbroglio. Since the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul on August 15, China and Pakistan have stepped up contacts amidst a sense of their delight over a “humiliating defeat” of the U.S. after a 20-year war in Afghanistan despite lingering concerns over the return of the Taliban with all its baggage of the al-Qaeda and the Islamic State terror groups. Contrary to its oft-stated diplomatic position that it has no favourites in Afghanistan, the Pakistani government is clearly comfortable with the return of the Taliban, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted some Pakistani analysts as saying.