Khalilzad: Counterterrorism Is Integral to Doha Agreement Amid US-Taliban Cooperation
Zalmay Khalilzad, former US Special Representative for Afghan Peace, has emphasized that combating terrorism is a core pillar of the Doha Agreement. According to the accord, Afghanistan must not become a base for planning or executing attacks against the United States or its allies.
In an interview with Tolo News, Khalilzad stated that during his consultations with US officials, they expressed satisfaction with the Taliban administration’s level of cooperation in countering the ISIS threat—a challenge regarded by Washington as the most serious security concern at present.
Khalilzad added that the killing of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of Al-Qaeda, in Afghanistan has complicated this process. However, beyond this event, US officials have positively assessed the Taliban’s cooperation against ISIS and the implementation of the security aspects of the Doha Agreement. He stressed that combating ISIS is crucial for both the US and the Taliban.
The former US envoy also noted that the United States conducts intelligence and reconnaissance flights over Afghanistan to defend itself, gather information, and prevent potential threats—actions driven by Washington’s security concerns.
He explained that US technical and intelligence capabilities have reached a level that, had they existed before the September 11 attacks, those events might have been prevented.
Meanwhile, political analyst Ramazan Bashardust stated that the United States, if it decides to, has the capability to enter the airspace of more than 120 countries and return safely after operations.
Khalilzad further addressed the regional situation, asserting that the presence of ISIS elements in Pakistan is undeniable. He emphasized that Afghanistan and Pakistan must act responsibly to prevent groups that threaten neighboring countries from operating from their territories.
Although there are views within Afghanistan accusing Pakistan of supporting such groups, Khalilzad believes that diplomacy and bilateral cooperation offer the solution to this challenge.
He also mentioned that the issue of the Bagram Airbase can be resolved through dialogue and consultation between Kabul and Washington—an issue that remains sensitive in the relations between the two sides.
