The Secretary in Pakistan-4

The third issue Pakistan wants is a say in the Afghanistan affairs and the fear that India will get an advantage there due to its heavy investment and presence since the invasion of Afghanistan nine years ago. Pakistan wants its own Pashtu population to have a majority stake in any future setup of the government in Afghanistan when the international forces leave. But it is easier said than done. The minorities who are part of the present government have not forgotten the brutal Taliban regime in Afghanistan and would resist giving any majority stake to them. Furthermore, the U.S. wants the Taliban to renounce sheltering terrorists on its soil and agree to lay down its arms to join a future government. The Pakistan government wants to make sure its proxies or its allies get a major share of the government, but the Taliban fresh from the perceived victory by ejecting the international forces will be in mood to accommodate the Pakistan government and may want to create a greater Afghanistan encompassing the tribal areas and north western part of Pakistan.

The Taliban does not give a hoot about minority rights or anybody else who does not fit their rigid religious views and also fresh from their perceived victory, they would not care less if Al-Qaeda establishes a base there again as long as they are paying them money. Furthermore, a Taliban government in Afghanistan would also endanger the nuclear assets of Pakistan since the Taliban have a desire to get their hands on them one way or the other.