I will just throw out there some contrarian views on the Arab reaction
- Afghanistan is not an enemy state for them, and has its own importance on minerals and everything else we are well aware of
- fundamentally, a cessation of violence from their perspective is a good thing
- Pakistan has apparently gone from second gear to fifth gear, and whilst the justification here will be well understood to the outside world it will not be as well.
- conventional military this is a non-contest, Pakistan does not really need any help and should the Arabs be seen to be supporting Pakistan over Afghanistan?
- these middle power mediators, like turkey and the Arab states, they are pursuing their own self-interest and their own prestige
- Qatar, with us support has long been seen as the diplomatic front for the Taliban, in that sense they have established understandings, it's one of the most unique aspects of their diplomacy
I don't really agree with all of those, other than offering a table and some rooms the Arabs should be stating a position on respect for boundaries and safe havens for terrorism, as well as this, if Pakistan is expected to protect Arab equities then there should be reciprocation
support.
