International news outlets have extolled the news that representatives of the government in Kabul and of the Taliban met in Islamabad, Pakistan, over the past few days, to discuss conditions for peace. There have been so many false starts on talks that this latest initiative hardly deserves much comment. On the other hand, the new factor in the security equation in Afghanistan is the emergence of groups that have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS, the Levant being the “Sham” in Arabic).

The emergence of such groups has changed the nature of the security situation. The Taliban’s leaders in Quetta, Pakistan, can no longer pursue passive aggressive policies, awaiting the final departure of Western forces.  The activities of ISIL adherents compel the Taliban leaders to be more assertive and aggressive against ISIL. Assuming the talks are authentic, the emergence of ISIL in Afghanistan has provided a unique impetus for the government and Mullah Omar’s Shura to work together so that Afghans remain in control of Afghanistan.

Also on the news these days: after talks in Pakistan, Pakistani and Afghan spokesmen said the Afghan government delegation and the Taliban delegation agreed to resume talks after Ramadan, which ends in ten days.  The positive tone of official statements does not look genuine because the Taliban issued no statement about the talks.

Afghanistan and Pakistan did.  Both have strong interests in successful talks that would encourage them to put a positive spin on the talks. The lack of details, however, undermines their upbeat tone.  Pakistan is brokering these talks. It stands to lose its stature as an honest broker – which it never has been – if the talks fail. China and the US sent observers to the talks. 

A strong bias seems justified against Pakistanis involved with Afghanistan affairs. Pakistan has done nothing to suppress the Afghan Taliban who operate from Pakistan. Pakistani counter-insurgency operations have targeted Pakistani Taliban who seek to overthrow the government in Islamabad. Pakistani intelligence continues to aid and abet Afghan Taliban who operate against the Kabul government from safe havens in Pakistan.

Now the Pakistanis are hosting peace talks that would not be necessary were Pakistani officials honest about their Afghanistan policy.

When Pakistani generals, such as Chief of Army Staff General Sharif, brag about eliminating the terrorist threat in northwestern Pakistan, they are only referring to Islamic miscreants who want to replace the Islamabad government with an Islamic tyranny.  General Sharif, for example, never said that the Pakistan Army and security forces evicted Mullah Omar from Quetta or suppressed the Afghan Taliban leadership that operates from Quetta.