Khalilzad says Pakistan ‘misreads’ Afghanistan as airstrike tensions escalate
Relations between Kabul and Islamabad deteriorated in recent months over mutual accusations that armed groups operate from each other’s soil
KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — Former U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has criticized Pakistan’s military leadership, saying it fundamentally misjudges Afghanistan and wrongly believes it can force Kabul to accept its demands through military pressure.
In remarks reported by Ariana News, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s expectations of Afghanistan were so unreasonable that even Islamabad’s civilian government was reluctant to publicly articulate them.
His comments come amid renewed tensions following Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory, which authorities in Kabul have condemned as violations of sovereignty.
Khalilzad, who served as Washington’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation and played a key role in negotiations leading to the 2020 Doha agreement between the United States and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, warned that the current trajectory risks deepening instability in both countries.
He argued that coercive measures would not deliver sustainable security outcomes and said regional threats require coordinated responses rather than unilateral action.
Relations between Kabul and Islamabad have deteriorated in recent months over mutual accusations that armed groups operate from each other’s soil.
Pakistan has blamed Afghan-based militants for attacks inside its borders, while Afghan officials have accused Pakistan of breaching international norms through cross-border strikes.
Khalilzad said diplomacy remains the most viable path forward, noting that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has expressed willingness to reach a bilateral agreement preventing either country’s territory from being used against the other.
Concluding his remarks, Khalilzad described Pakistan as responsible for the latest escalation and urged both sides to resume dialogue, saying sustained diplomatic engagement — rather than force — offers the best chance of reducing tensions and promoting regional stability.
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