Pakistan's Post September 11 2001 Afghan Policy Shift

Abstract

Pakistan had supported the Taliban until September 11 2001, which had gradually alienated the whole region surrounding Pakistan and Afghanistan. After September 11 2001, US-led international military action brought a change in Afghanistan that brought to power forces inimical to Pakistan and supported by the rest of the countries of the region. Pakistan minimized the loss it felt by withdrawing support for the Taliban in the wake of 9/11 and becoming an ally in the `War against Terrorism', with the result that the USA has played a role in stopping the total regional isolation of Pakistan. Pakistan's support for the War on Terror has encouraged a peace process between India and Pakistan. But for Pakistan's decision to realign itself, the regional geopolitical map would have been totally different.

Keywords

Afghanistan conflict diplomacy India Kashmir militancy Pakistan Pashtuns peace religious extremism terrorism

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