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.

Explore more

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

From the January 7th 2023 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

More from Asia

A Virginia Class submarine

AUKUS enters its fifth year. How is the pact faring?

It has weathered two big political changes. What about Donald Trump’s return?

Japanese and American soldier placing flags before an official gathering

Joe Biden’s mixed legacy on Japan

Security co-operation flourished, but a scuppered steel deal leaves a sour taste


A worker supervises the disposal of slag from nickel ore processing in a nickel factory in Sorowako, Indonesia

Indonesia nearly has a monopoly on nickel. What next?

Prabowo Subianto, the new president, wants to create an electric car supply chain


What a 472-year-old corpse reveals about India

St Francis Xavier is both venerated and despised

Pakistan’s army puts a former intelligence chief on trial

General Faiz Hameed is an ally of Imran Khan, who is currently behind bars

By resisting arrest, South Korea’s president challenges democracy

His attempt to impose martial law failed. But Yoon Suk Yeol is still causing trouble



Discover more

FILE - A cargo ship traverses the Agua Clara Locks of the Panama Canal in Colon, Panama, Sept. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias

What would Donald Trump gain from seizing the Panama Canal?

The president-elect claims the crossing is controlled by China and rips off American consumers

Pedestrians in Beijing, China

A pay rise for government workers sparks anger and envy in China

The effort to improve morale has not had the intended effect


A firefighter conducts search and rescue operation after an earthquake in Tibet

A big earthquake causes destruction in Tibet

Dozens are dead, thousands of buildings have been destroyed


Does China have the fiscal firepower to rescue its economy?

There is a fierce debate over whether it can afford to keep spending

Podcast Drum Tower

Inside the mind of Xi Jinping

Our weekly podcast on China. This week, the ideologies and anxieties that shape the leader’s decisions