Afghanistan Peace CampaignHe urged Pakistan to ease tensions and both countries to prevent groups like the TTP and ISIS from using their territories against each other.
Amid ongoing tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, Zalmay Khalilzad, former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, has said that de-escalation and reaching an agreement between the two countries would be a better option than an expansion of the conflict involving greater intervention by India or Russia.
He emphasized that Pakistan should take steps to reduce tensions and that both countries should commit to preventing groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and ISIS from using their territories against each other.
Zalmay Khalilzad, Former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, said: “Rather than escalation and widening the war with greater Indian and/or Russian involment in support of Afghanistan, a better option is de-escalation and an agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan that commits the two neighbors not to allow their territory to be used by individuals and groups including TTP and ISIS. The ball is in Pakistan’s court.”
Sayed Moqadam Amin, Political Analyst, said: “Pakistan is facing security threats within its own territory and believes that these threats are supported from Afghanistan. Until the issues between the two countries are resolved and mutual trust is established, both sides may continue blaming each other for regional insecurity.”
Meanwhile, Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, spokesperson for the Pakistani military, told Reuters that Pakistan seeks engagement with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. However, he believes such engagement will only be productive if Islamabad’s security concerns are addressed.
Moeen Gul Samkani, Political Analyst, said: “Engagement with Pakistan is the better option because we are neighbors and have political and economic ties. We should normalize and strengthen our relations.”
Although the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has not recently commented on the matter, it has repeatedly emphasized that Afghan territory will not be used against any country.
Zabihullah Mujahid previously said that Afghanistan does not seek tensions with Pakistan and has made efforts to resolve disputes peacefully through mediation by several countries.
According to Mujahid, these efforts have so far failed to produce results, and Islamabad’s insistence on maintaining its previous policies has been among the reasons for the lack of progress.