Khalilzad: Kabul Prepared to Provide Written Security Assurances to Pakistan
DID Press: Former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, has said Afghan authorities are prepared to provide written security guarantees to Pakistan, urging greater clarity regarding Islamabad’s security demands from the Taliban administration.
In a statement addressing recent debates in Pakistan’s National Assembly, Khalilzad noted that several lawmakers had expressed concern over the costs and risks of relying on force rather than diplomacy to manage tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.
According to Khalilzad, Pakistan maintains that groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan receive sanctuary and support in Afghanistan, while Afghan authorities accuse Pakistan of harboring and supporting Islamic State Khorasan Province and other groups opposed to Kabul.
He said Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Pakistan’s defense minister, recently argued that diplomatic efforts with the Taliban administration had failed because Kabul had not provided sufficient guarantees and commitments, though he did not elaborate on the specific requirements.
Khalilzad stated that Afghan officials told him Kabul has been willing to provide written security assurances while seeking similar guarantees from Pakistan. They also said Afghanistan has cooperated through bilateral mechanisms, including the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), to address security concerns and has accepted third-party participation in verification processes.
According to the former envoy, Afghan officials further claimed that Kabul has taken verifiable measures against individuals who violated its policy prohibiting the use of Afghan territory for attacks against other countries.
Khalilzad called on Pakistani lawmakers who support diplomatic engagement to encourage their government to pursue a bilateral agreement under which neither country would allow its territory to be used to threaten the other’s security.
He concluded by questioning why Islamabad continues to describe diplomacy as unsuccessful if Kabul has indeed presented such proposals, arguing that both the Pakistani public and parliament deserve clear answers regarding Pakistan’s objections.