The reason the region as a whole might be persuaded to unite behind a settlement is that the Taliban opponents of peace efforts have either joined or are drawing closer to the Islamic State. In recent months the Iraqi-based Islamist group has been establishing a stronger presence in eastern Afghanistan and has killed a number of local Taliban who have opposed it.

The Islamic State, or ISIS, is in the unique position of being feared and hated by the West as well as every country from the Middle East to Central Asia for its terrorism and revolutionary agenda. By contrast, Mullah Mansour and the Taliban political leadership have for several years been stressing that theirs is a purely Afghan movement.

Iran loathes ISIS because of its savage anti-Shiite sectarianism. Russia and the former Soviet republics of Central Asia hate it because of the numerous Chechens, Uzbeks and other Islamic militants in its ranks, and its promotion of Islamist revolution in the lands of the former Soviet Union.

India fears ISIS because of its links to extremist groups that wish to resume jihad against India. An ISIS document found in the tribal areas of Pakistan underlines that war in India is one of the group’s aims, along with destabilizing the region as a whole. In fact, for ISIS a war between India and Pakistan could well be seen as a chief regional goal. Given the ISIS track record in Syria and Iraq, building an army out of disgruntled Taliban fighters with their guns trained on India is a threat New Delhi cannot afford. If this was not reason enough to enter into dialogue with the region as a whole, and Pakistan in particular, the fact that Mullah Mansour is for the time being the legitimate, pro-peace leader of the Taliban offers a chance that may not come again.

To be sure, until a few years ago news of Mullah Omar’s death would have given Indian officials reason to celebrate. After all, Mullah Omar was the Taliban leader who allowed an Indian Airlines jet hijacked by Pakistan-supported Kashmiri terrorists to land in Kandahar in 1999. In exchange for the hostages on board the plane, the Indian government released three jailed terrorists. One of them later masterminded the attack against the Indian Parliament in 2001 that left at least nine dead and took India and Pakistan to the brink of war.