Asia | Banyan

Pakistan and China find they have little leverage with the Taliban

Hopes of greater influence after the departure of the Americans have remained unfulfilled

When america beat a sudden, ignominious retreat from Afghanistan and the Taliban surged to power, there was much cheering in next-door Pakistan. In China, America’s withdrawal was considered a great propaganda coup.

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This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Be careful what you wish for”

Exit wave

From the January 7th 2023 edition

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