Khalilzad Warns of Regional Instability after Failed Pakistani Airstrike on Kabul

DID Press: Former U.S. envoy on Afghanistan peace process Zalmay Khalilzad described Pakistan’s recent airstrike on Kabul as a failure, warning that continued tensions will lead to broader instability across the region.

Khalilzad wrote on his X social platform that the intended target of Islamabad’s operation was not present at the time, and the air raid failed to achieve its objective. He added that Pakistani fighter jets over Kabul and their breaking of the sound barrier had further escalated tensions between the two countries.

Khalilzad said some Afghan leaders had called for an immediate response but added that diplomatic channels can still help prevent the crisis. He noted that Pakistan’s defense minister and the head of its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency had expressed willingness to visit Kabul — a move that signal Islamabad’s interest in dialogue with either the Taliban government or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), though the seriousness of this approach remains unclear.

Khalilzad concluded that there is still an opportunity to return to diplomacy, but warned that without firm engagement and pressure from influential countries on Pakistan, the risk of escalating conflict and regional instability will increase sharply.