Khalilzad: Pakistani People Do Not Support Deadly Government Policies
Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. envoy for Afghan peace, stated that he does not believe the people of Pakistan support their government’s policies, which have led to the deaths of Afghan civilians. He added that the gap between the people and the ruling establishment in Pakistan is widening.
Hamdullah Futrat, deputy spokesperson of the Taliban administration, announced yesterday in Kabul that in attacks attributed to the Pakistani military regime, 110 civilians, including women and children, have been killed and 123 others injured. According to him, as a result of these attacks, 8,400 families have also been displaced from their areas.
On Wednesday, Khalilzad wrote on his X page: “I do not believe the people of Pakistan support their government’s policies; policies that have caused the deaths of Afghan civilians.” He emphasized that the views of the Pakistani people should not be equated with the policies of their ruling institutions.
The former American diplomat, referring to recent United Nations reports on increased Afghan civilian casualties from Pakistani airstrikes, questioned whether the divide between the people and the government in Pakistan is growing. He answered that, in his view, this divide is indeed increasing.
Recent United Nations reports also indicate a rise in civilian casualties due to recent tensions between the two countries, a situation that has heightened concerns about its humanitarian and security consequences in the region.
