Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. special envoy for Afghan peace, emphasized the need for an agreement similar to the Doha Accord between the Taliban and Pakistan.
He, who recently visited Kabul, wrote on X: “Based on my recent discussions with Taliban leaders, I believe they are ready to negotiate such an agreement. A deal like this could fundamentally transform relations between the two neighbors.”
Khalilzad described comments by Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, spokesperson for the Pakistani military, regarding the Doha Accord as “misinterpreted,” saying Chaudhry is mistaken in assuming that the agreement also addresses Afghanistan-Pakistan relations.
The former U.S. diplomat called the idea of signing a Doha-like agreement with Pakistan “interesting” and added, “The ball is now in Pakistan’s court.”
According to Khalilzad, an agreement between the Taliban and Pakistan, in which both commit to preventing any individual or group including ISIS and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from using their territory to threaten the security of the other country, would be beneficial for both nations. He stated that such an agreement should be implemented under the supervision of a third party, without specifying which country.
Khalilzad is considered the architect of the original Doha Accord between the Taliban and the United States, which eventually led to the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s rise to power.
