What does Pakistani school attack mean for Middle East stability?

The Taliban attack on a Pakistani school Tuesday left 141 people dead, including 132 children.

We take a bigger look at the state of Pakistan and the Taliban. With the rise of ISIS, the spotlight seems to have moved away from the Taliban, but what does this attack mean for their power? What does the Taliban want?

"The Pakistan Taliban -- who have long conducted an insurgency against the Pakistani government as they seek to overthrow the authorities and bring in Sharia law -- were quick to claim the terror attack," reported CNN. "And they said it was revenge for the killing of hundreds of innocent tribesmen and their children during a recent offensive by the Pakistani military."

In The Guardian, Bina Shah responded to the attack:

If anyone still thinks this is about religion, and not a political struggle with the barest patina of religion as justification for this war, they need only come to Peshawar to attend the funerals of the children, who will be buried before the sun goes down, in the Islamic tradition. They have only to hear what their parents will say, the customary response to the news of a Muslim's death: to Him we belong and to Him we will return. The children who were killed are of the same religion as the attackers claim to follow. This is not about religion: this is about power, intimidation and revenge.

On The Daily Circuit, we look at what the attack means for stability in the Middle East.