Zalmay Khalilzad: I Once Intended to Run for Afghanistan’s Presidency

DID Press: Veteran diplomat and former U.S. envoy for Afghan peace, Zalmay Khalilzad, has for the first time revealed that he once planned to run for Afghanistan’s presidency—but later decided against it.

Khalilzad, the Afghan-American diplomat who played a key role in shaping Afghanistan’s post-Taliban political order after 2001 and was one of the main architects of the U.S.-Taliban peace deal signed in Doha, said in a recent interview that he had considered entering Afghanistan’s presidential race following his successful diplomatic missions.

In an episode of the “Afghanistan with Roh Yaqoubi” podcast, Khalilzad stated:

“My mission in Afghanistan was carried out properly and successfully. After the Soviet withdrawal and the outbreak of civil wars, I always told myself I had to do something for my country.”

According to Khalilzad, several former Afghan officials had urged him to participate in the presidential elections.

“They told me Afghan politicians had failed to do their job properly and had paved the way for the Taliban’s return. They asked me to step forward myself to save the country,” he said.

However, Khalilzad emphasized that due to his long career in the U.S. diplomatic service, such a move could have sparked negative reactions both inside Afghanistan and in the wider region.

“I always thought that would be a strange decision,” he explained. “Having worked for the United States for so many years, such a step might have harmed Afghanistan, and neighboring countries might have misinterpreted it.”

Khalilzad added that even his wife and some Afghans believed he would eventually announce his candidacy.

“Some American officials also encouraged me to run,” he said, “but I decided not to take that path.”