Khalilzad Says Pakistan Must Explain Why It Considers Diplomacy with Afghanistan Unsuccessful

Zalmay Khalilzad stated that Pakistan's parliament and people deserve an explanation from their government on why it claims diplomacy with Afghanistan has failed. He noted that Afghan officials have taken multiple verifiable steps to address Pakistan's security concerns, including written guarantees, third-party verification, and refugee relocations.

Khalilzad urged Pakistani lawmakers to push for more diplomatic negotiations based on mutual commitments to prevent the use of each other's territory for threats. He pointed to recent discussions in Pakistan's National Assembly about the costs and dangers of using force instead of diplomacy.

Pakistan claims that the TTP and other groups have safe havens and support in Afghanistan, while Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of supporting ISKP and other opposition groups. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said Kabul has not provided necessary guarantees and commitments, making diplomacy unsuccessful.

Afghan officials have proposed written security guarantees, bilateral cooperation mechanisms, third-party verification, a fatwa prohibiting attacks on Pakistan, relocation of Pakistani refugees near the Durand Line, and participation in mediated talks. They have stated that verifiable actions have been taken against any individual or group using Afghan soil to threaten other countries.

Khalilzad called on Pakistani parliamentarians to pursue an agreement ensuring neither country allows its territory to threaten the other's security.