Operation Lionheart: Joint Afghan-Pakistani-American offensive around Durand Line

That's probably true. But what of the Tajiks and Uzbeks and Hazaras and others who don't want Pashtoon rule and would prefer foreigners?

The problem is that Afghanistan seems locked in conflict between Pashtoons who want to rule without foreign influence and non-Pashtoons who want to avoid Pashtoon rule and will embrace foreign influence if it helps.

Afghanistan fails to do what Pakistan, for all its flaws, manages - bring together different ethnicities with different cultures to peacefully engage in the political process.

Afghans are too ready to turn to arms. Pashtoons are too ready to use the gun to take control, and equally non-Pashtoons are too ready to take up arms to deny Pashtoons control. The country is stuck in a vicious cycle.

If as in the current situation, Pashtoons are pushed out of power, they will fight to regain control. If as in the previous situation under the Taliban, non-Pashtoons are pushed out of power, they will start looking abroad for support to regain it.