Pakistan and the Taliban regime have kicked off a new round of negotiations in Istanbul. The talks are ostensibly aimed at preventing further escalation of their violent clashes over the past month. However, both sides are already accusing each other of violating the ceasefire. War clouds are hovering over the Durand Line, their disputed border.
Should a war erupt, would Pakistan gain? Pakistan is militarily stronger than the Taliban and therefore, it has many reasons to believe that it can gain a lot from the war with the Taliban. However, a protracted war with the Taliban might not yield Pakistan the outcome it expects.
Legitimizing its war with the Taliban is a significant hurdle for Pakistan. In the past, Pakistan drew on religion to legitimize its proxy wars in Afghanistan and Kashmir.
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