Two viewpoints, one from Londonistani (UK national, now @ Chatham House) who knows Pakistan over many years working there and the second by Richard Olson, a former US Ambassador to Pakistan & SRAP.

Londonistani examines the strategic situation Pakistan is in now minus US support, an often ambivalent China, India being a perceived capable enemy neighbour and an inability to fund what it wants to do.

Link:https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/...tan-s-problems

Mr Olson ends with:
The United States can address Afghanistan only with a political initiative. The ultimate answer to the Pakistan conundrum is to start a diplomatic initiative to bring peace to Afghanistan by opening talks with the Taliban. Much of diplomacy is taking away the other side’s talking points, or excuses.The Trump administration has publicly stated that it sees the conflict ending only through a negotiated solution. It is difficult to understand why no such diplomatic initiative had been started.
Link:https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/09/o...id-engage.html


Whatever one thinks of President Trump talking to the Taliban is not going to happen; though others may and the Afghan state talks to all manner of people - that is their way of resolving conflicts.