Khalilzad calls for a ‘fresh’ Pakistan-Afghanistan security agreement

WEB DESK: Former United States special representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has called on Pakistan to pursue a direct bilateral security arrangement with the Taliban-led government in Kabul, arguing that such an accord could help stabilise relations between the two neighbours.

His remarks came a day after Pakistan’s military spokesperson criticised the Afghan Taliban for not honouring assurances Pakistan says were linked to the 2020 Doha Agreement.

In a post on social media platform X, Khalilzad said it was incorrect to assume that the Doha deal addressed issues between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Sharing the text of the agreement, he noted that it focused primarily on the Taliban’s commitment to ensure Afghan soil would not be used for attacks against the United States and its allies.

Khalilzad said a separately negotiated pact between Islamabad and Kabul could serve the interests of both sides. He suggested an agreement under which neither country would allow individuals or groups, including the self-styled Islamic State and the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, to use its territory to threaten the other’s security. He also proposed the inclusion of a mechanism for third-party verification.

Citing his recent interactions with Taliban leaders, Khalilzad said he believed they were open to negotiating such an understanding, describing the idea as potentially transformative for bilateral ties.

The former diplomat, who recently played a role in talks that led to the release of US citizens held in Afghanistan, continues to be regarded as an influential figure in Washington and Kabul. Often described in US policy circles as a hardliner, Khalilzad has previously voiced concern over the imprisonment of former prime minister Imran Khan and has been openly critical of Pakistan’s establishment. His latest comments point to a renewed push for a diplomatic approach to address ongoing cross-border militancy that has strained Pakistan-Afghanistan relations for years.