Flintlock
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So that would explain why they are not taking responsibility in Afghanistan either then.
It wouldn't, because they attack military or diplomatic targets in Afghanistan.
Also, the population in Afghanistan is far more conservative and pro-radical than in Pakistan. Its easier for them to gain support there.
Actually Pakistan's support for the Taliban initially was also attached to economic gains. The destabilized nature of Afghanistan was not conducive to establishing trade links and becoming an energy corridor - which at that time was the TAP pipeline. Both Ahmed Rashid and Steven Coll discuss that in their books Taliban and Ghost Wars.
There was also the benefit of having a government friendly to Pakistan, but the primary goal was stability through the Taliban.
Look, its quite simple. Pakistan doesn't want the Karzai regime which is pro-India.
To be more specific, the rabidly anti-India and pro-Jehadi elements within the Pakistan regime don't want the Karzai regime.
The current regime is extremely harmful to Pakistani interests, or so the Pakistani hardliners think. So its quite obvious that they would do their best to destabilize the current regime.
It is no more ridiculous that suggestions that the ISI is actively supporting destabilization (which it already is) in a country when that destabilization has severe repercussions for Pakistan, and Pakistan is already suffering from them.
It isn't because of the burden of evidence that significant pro-Taliban elements exist within the Pakistani establishment who support them for their ideology.
Sure, Pakistan is suffering the Taliban. But then why is it so weak in dealing with them?
Your destabilization argument has been shown wrong - if you read the ISSA report and others, it also talks about how Karzai is extremely unpopular because of the corruption and drugs and weapons trade. He has an extremely strong interest in deflecting attention away from all of Afghanistan's internal problems by blaming them on Pakistan, as does India since it pressures Pakistan.
What ISSA report?
Look, it sits squarely in India's interests to support the current democratic government in Pakistan. Its India's only hope of keeping Kashmir stable.
The last thing it wants, as I said, is for Pakistan to fall into the hands of extremists.
Its quite well known that the Taliban operates with impunity within Pakistan's borders. The US has been complaining for ages that Taliban fighters flee into Pakistan away from their reach.
There have also been several pieces that squarely blame elements within the Pakistani establishment for aiding the Taliban.
Also, the last thing India wants is to sabotage its own efforts in that country.