Khalilzad Says Stopping Anti-US Threats Returning Is Washington’s Priority in Afghanistan
Zalmay Khalilzad, a former US diplomat, has said Washington’s most important interest in Afghanistan is to prevent the country from once again becoming a centre or haven for anti-American terrorist groups.
In a video released on Saturday, Sept. 12, he said the United States does not want Afghanistan to once again descend into chaos and disorder because, he said, such a situation could create conditions for terrorist groups to grow and threats to the United States to increase.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan’s economic progress and the development of its natural resources, with the participation of other countries and companies, could align with US national interests.
According to him, if the United States does not engage to advance its interests in Afghanistan, a vacuum will emerge that Washington’s rivals will fill. In this context, he pointed to the activities of China and Russia in Afghanistan, saying China is seeking to dominate Afghanistan’s natural resources and Russia is also “very active” in the country.
Khalilzad stressed that US policy toward Afghanistan should be set based on the country’s current and future conditions and should make clear what kind of country Washington wants Afghanistan to become in the future.
He currently holds no official position in the US government. Spokespeople for the US State Department have also previously said Khalilzad’s remarks do not reflect Washington’s official position.
