Khalilzad Urges Pakistan to Clarify Claims of Diplomatic Failure with Taliban
Zalmay Khalilzad, former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Peace, has called on Pakistan’s parliament and people to demand clear explanations from their government regarding claims of diplomatic failure with Afghanistan. He emphasized that clarifying the reasons behind these claims is essential for public understanding in Pakistan.
In a message posted on social media, Khalilzad noted that last week several members of Pakistan’s National Assembly discussed the costs and potential risks of resorting to force instead of dialogue with Afghanistan. According to him, these discussions reflect internal questions within Pakistan about the current approach toward Afghanistan.
He stated that Islamabad claims the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other groups responsible for attacks within Pakistan find sanctuary and support in Afghanistan. Conversely, Taliban officials have frequently accused Pakistan of supporting ISIS-Khorasan and other opposition groups, accusations which have strained relations between the two sides.
Referring to remarks by Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khalilzad said Pakistani officials assert that Kabul did not provide the necessary guarantees and commitments, which led to the failure of diplomatic efforts. However, according to Khalilzad, the details of these claims have not been publicly disclosed.
He added that based on information received from Afghan officials, measures have been proposed or implemented to address Pakistan’s security concerns, including written security guarantees, cooperation through bilateral mechanisms, acceptance of third-party verification, issuance of fatwas prohibiting Afghan participation in attacks against Pakistan, relocation of Pakistani refugees from areas near the Durand Line, and participation in formal and informal talks facilitated by certain countries.
Khalilzad further mentioned that Afghan officials have stressed they have taken “verifiable” actions against any individual or group using Afghan territory to threaten other countries. However, the Taliban administration has yet to release independent and verifiable details on how these measures have been carried out, which could impact regional trust.
He urged Pakistani parliamentarians to encourage their government to strengthen dialogue and strive for an agreement whereby neither country permits its territory to be used to threaten the other’s security.
Concluding, Khalilzad questioned: if the proposals put forth by Afghanistan are accurate and there is readiness for a serious solution, what exactly is Pakistan’s problem with these plans and why does Islamabad continue to declare diplomacy a failure? He stated that a clear answer to this question could determine the future direction of relations between the two countries.
