Pakistan has long played active, disruptive role in Afghan affairs: CRS report

CRS reports are prepared for lawmakers to make informed decisions on various issues of their interest

has long played an active and, by many accounts, disruptive and destabilising role in affairs, including through the provision of support to the Taliban, a latest Congressional report on Afghanistan has said.

In the report, which has been prepared by independent subject area experts, the bipartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) said that if other countries such as Pakistan, Russia, China, or U.S. partners such as Qatar move towards greater acceptance of the Taliban, it could isolate the United States, weakening its leverage and giving the Taliban greater opportunities to evade or counter the U.S. pressure.

Most immediately, a more punitive U.S. approach could exacerbate the already dire humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan with uncertain implications for Taliban rule and regional dynamics.