Mohaqeq to Khalilzad: Taliban Took Power by Force—Why Force Forbidden for Others?

DID Press: Mohammad Mohaqeq, a veteran Afghanistani political and jihadi leader, strongly rebuked remarks by former U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, questioning why the Taliban were allowed to seize power through violence while other groups are denied the same means.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, August 16, Mohaqeq accused Khalilzad of being the chief architect of Afghanistan’s current crisis, enabling years of targeted killings. He claimed that both Khalilzad and his wife have repeatedly taken irrational positions in support of the Taliban.

His comments followed Khalilzad’s criticism of an upcoming civil–political conference in Pakistan, organized by Afghanistani women activists. “If Afghanistani women organize a gathering, why should it be branded as an act of force by you? So who, in your view, has the right to hold conferences—ISIS-K or the Taliban?” asked Mohaqeq.

He further stressed that the Taliban did not rise to power through democracy or the people’s vote, but rather through U.S. backing and brute force. He asked to know why the very method that secured Taliban control is now deemed “illegitimate” for others.

The exchange comes ahead of the August 25–26 conference in Pakistan, where Afghanistani activists are expected to discuss human rights, women’s issues, and the country’s political landscape.

Khalilzad had earlier expressed concerns over the gathering, alleging that some participants support the violent overthrow of the Taliban. He described Pakistan’s hosting of the event as “reckless and provocative.”