What COULD you do for them given your limited resources besides assist their efforts to eradicate the N.A.? After all, one must have priorities.
Given the mess the NA had created with their corruption and 'warlordism', not unlike what we once more see in Afghanistan after the US put them in charge again, that was a reasonable priority.
And yes, resources from Pakistan were primarily devoted to the war effort, but the war effort itself was fueled by the hope that the ensuing stability under a singular government would result in transnational business opportunities that would inevitably benefit both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
I see you take pride in raising a government one step above utter dysfunction. They were rigorous in establishing "stability" and "law and order". Order, perhaps. Law? Of course not unless medieval justice is your preference. Stability? Another way of saying "order".
Not necessarily pride, but TS's description of the Taliban was flawed, and I pointed that out. Secondly, moving from a land of daily rapes, murders, robberies and extortion from every kind of scum imaginable, to one where most of those problems were controlled and even on-existent in some areas is quite a bit more than 'one step above utter dysfunction'. Your aversion to their ideology clouds your judgment when it comes to analyzing the stability and 'law and order' they brought about. I am no fan of their interpretation of Islam, but given the situation that existed pre-Taliban, the environment under Taliban rule was preferable by a long shot.
How smug and self-satisfied. Don't include us in your coterie. We didn't recognize them for good reason. There was no satisfaction on our part. You were easily satisfied-a willing and pliable junior partner.
Oh you were satisfied alright - the US businessmen plying the roads of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan did so with full State Department knowledge and backing, with the US embassy in Islamabad lobbying on behalf of American business interests as well.
Lets not pretend to be angels here - everyone was looking out for their own interests.