PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN, AND THE TALIBAN.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are neighboring states in South Asia. The Taliban is primarily centered in the border region of Pakistan and Afghanistan, affecting the politics of both countries. Pakistan is the country blamed for harboring enemies of Afghanistan during the Afghan-Soviet war (1979-1989). After the collapse of Soviet Afghanistan, that country became more fragmented and divided internally. The Taliban emerged as a major political and military force in 1996. They were supported by Pakistan both diplomatically and materially and harbored Osama bin Laden who was involved in the 9/11 incident. Pakistan decided to support the U.S. policy of war on terrorism and this meant Pakistan officially went to war against the Taliban. Pakistan's goal is to see a stable Afghanistan, but if the U.S. would withdraw its forces, elements in Pakistan might once again be tempted to favor the Pastuns in the governance of Afghanistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]