Zalmay Khalilzad Condemns Pakistani Cross-Border Attacks on Afghanistan
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. special representative for Afghan peace, has condemned Pakistani rocket and air strikes on Afghan territory overnight. He described the attacks, which targeted multiple areas in the Afghan provinces of Khost, Kunar, and Paktika, as a violation of Afghanistan’s national sovereignty.
In a message posted Sunday on the social platform X, Khalilzad extended condolences to the families of the victims and denounced the assaults. He stressed that the killing of civilians not only fails to resolve tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, but also escalates border conflicts and fuels regional insecurity.
The former U.S. envoy urged both sides to exercise restraint and adopt a reality-based approach to avoid further conflict and civilian suffering. He emphasized that ongoing border tensions benefit neither country and require diplomatic solutions and constructive dialogue.
Khalilzad’s remarks come amid a lack of a clear response from the Taliban administration regarding the Pakistani border attacks—a silence that has sparked widespread criticism among residents of the affected provinces.
