Khalilzad Warns of Worsening Crisis in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province
Zalmay Khalilzad, former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Peace, has described the security and political situation in Pakistan’s Balochistan province as alarming and warned that the continuation of the current approach by the country’s leaders could have severe consequences.
In a message on the social media platform X, Khalilzad referred to the imprisonment of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, stating that Khan is being held in solitary confinement on charges Khalilzad described as baseless. According to Khalilzad, Imran Khan is one of Pakistan’s most popular political figures, and the way he is being treated reflects the deep political crisis in the country.
He further accused the Pakistani government of “inflexibility and stubbornness” and warned that without changes in governance style, Pakistan will be driven towards what he called a “pit of misery.”
The former US peace envoy emphasized that Pakistani multidisciplinary experts and analysts could create conditions for improvement through collective and responsible decision-making. He especially highlighted the necessity of finding a political solution to the crisis in Balochistan province.
These remarks come as the Chief Minister of Balochistan had earlier indicated that a military option was the way out of the current deadlock in the province—a stance that has drawn criticism from some observers and political analysts.
