Khalilzad Criticizes Pakistan’s Double Standards on Afghanistan Policy
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US envoy for Afghan peace, has sharply criticized Pakistan’s double standards regarding Afghanistan’s political situation in response to recent statements by Pakistani officials.
Khalilzad referred to remarks from some Pakistani leaders calling for the rule of a true representative of the Afghan people as “kind but hypocritical.” He emphasized that Islamabad has supported groups that have contributed to Afghanistan’s instability for decades.
He stated that within Pakistan itself, the intelligence agency and military hold power, while the country’s former popular leader, Imran Khan, has been imprisoned and non-transparent elections have taken place.
Khalilzad suggested that instead of offering ineffective advice to other countries, Pakistan’s leaders should focus on their internal issues, including resolving armed insurgencies in the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
These criticisms come amid highly tense Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, marked by the Taliban’s presence and militant group activities, especially in border regions.
