Khalilzad: Imran Khan’s Imprisonment Has Not Benefited Pakistan
Zalmay Khalilzad, former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Peace, stated on the third anniversary of Imran Khan’s imprisonment that his detention not only failed to contribute to Pakistan’s stability but has also plunged the country into broader crises.
On Wednesday, Khalilzad wrote on the social media platform X that although Pakistan has achieved some successes in certain areas of foreign policy, the fundamental question remains whether the people and political structure of the country are in a better position now than three years ago. He emphasized that the answer to this question is “clearly negative.”
According to him, Pakistan’s economy is facing serious instability, and the government is seeking urgent external assistance to avoid financial collapse. He also claimed that Balochistan has entered a full stage of rebellion, and violence has escalated in Pakistani-administered Kashmir and in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Khalilzad further described Pakistan’s foreign relations as deteriorating, noting that its relations with both Afghanistan and India have become more strained compared to the past.
In conclusion, he described Pakistan’s overall situation as “critical” and stated that the country needs a “reset” at the national level—a process that, in his view, must be accompanied by internal reconciliation and compromise. Imran Khan, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, was detained three years ago, and his legal cases continue to be a focal point of tension in the country’s domestic politics.
