Pakistan acted as U.S. spearhead against Soviet Union when it invaded Afghanistan . Fawaz Gerges says the U.S. lost interest , leaving Pakistan to pick up pieces in Afghanistan . He says Pakistan depends on Afghan Taliban to impose rule on Afghanistan . Throughout the Cold War rivalry between the U.S.-led Western alliance and the Soviet camp , Pakistan allied itself with the West and fought devastating wars against India , its strategic rival and a close friend of communist China and Russia . He says Pakistan sees its interest tied to Taliban and need to counter aggression of India .
Pakistan acted as U.S. spearhead against Soviet Union when it invaded Afghanistan . Fawaz Gerges says the U.S. lost interest , leaving Pakistan to pick up pieces in Afghanistan . He says Pakistan depends on Afghan Taliban to impose rule on Afghanistan . He says Pakistan sees its interest tied to Taliban and need to counter aggression of India .