As long as the safe havens were permitted to operate

The Soviets realized an important point during their conflict in Afghanistan .... that as long as the safe havens were permitted to operate in Pakistan, and having Afghan allies that were either corrupt and/or incompetent .... there was no chance of the Red Army being victorious. The same can be said today. As long as Pakistan permits the safe havens to operate on their territory, and as long as the Kabul government remains corrupt .... the Western effort to defeat the Taliban will also end in eventual defeat.