Who are the Afghan Taliban and the Pakistani Taliban?

The Afghan Taliban do not engage in attacks in Pakistan. Its efforts are focused on fighting Afghan and international troops in Afghanistan. Yet despite their differences, all of the Pakistani Taliban factions—even those that attack Pakistani interests—call the reclusive Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar their leader, or amir al-mu’minin.

What’s happened to Afghanistan’s military?

The Taliban’s rapid advance has made clear that U.S. efforts to turn Afghanistan’s military into a robust, independent fighting force have failed, with its soldiers feeling abandoned by inept leaders. An Afghan police special forces soldier at a frontline position in Kandahar this month.

Why won’t the Afghan Taliban disown the TTP?

From the Afghan Taliban’s perspective, despite their disapproval of Pakistani Taliban attacks inside Pakistan, they are hesitant to disown the TTP mainly because they need Pakistani Taliban support in the tribal regions to maintain their safe havens and sanctuaries, as well as to recruit Pashtun tribesmen to fight in neighboring Afghanistan.

Why are Afghan forces surrendering so fast?

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — The surrenders seem to be happening as fast as the Taliban can travel. In the past several days, the Afghan security forces have collapsed in more than 15 cities under the pressure of a Taliban advance that began in May.

The Pakistani Taliban, who are loosely allied with the Afghan Taliban, orchestrated a deadly countrywide terrorist campaign in Pakistan between 2007 and 2014. The leaders of the Pakistani Taliban escaped to Afghanistan after the Pakistani military launched a major offensive against them in 2014.

Would Pakistan want a peaceful end to the Afghan conflict?

Pakistani military leaders, the country’s de facto rulers, would have likely preferred a peaceful end to the conflict in Afghanistan, provided that their Taliban proxies held decisive influence in any future Afghan government.

What is Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan?

The Taliban in Afghanistan helped inspire the deadly Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, more commonly known simply as the Pakistani Taliban. The leaders of the two groups are reportedly at odds.

Is the Taliban pushing China and Russia closer to each other?

Meanwhile, the Taliban could be pushing China and Russia closer as the two countries seek a hedge against the potential for instability in Afghanistan. Both countries are concerned about possible “spillover” of Islamist extremism, Miller says.