Understanding the Strategic Culture of the Taliban - Implications for Pakistan

Abstract

This study explores the evolution of the Taliban’s strategic culture and its implications for Pakistan’s security, diplomacy, and regional policy. Drawing on Strategic Culture Theory, it examines how religious orthodoxy, Pashtun tribal codes, and resistance identity have shaped the Taliban’s strategic behavior across three phases—Taliban 1.0 (1996–2001), the insurgency phase (2001–2021), and Taliban 2.0 (post-2021). The paper argues that the Taliban’s return to power has transformed them from a proxy into an autonomous actor pursuing its own national and religious agenda. This shift has strained Pak-Afghan relations, intensified border tensions, and fueled cross-border militancy through the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The ideological spillover has also emboldened terrorism and extremism within Pakistan. The study concludes that Pakistan must abandon its overreliance on ideological affinity and adopt a transactional, interest-based policy toward Kabul to safeguard national stability and effectively manage future regional challenges.

Keywords: Taliban`s Strategic Culture, Pak-Afghan relations, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Deobandi Ideology, Pashtunwali.