Former US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad yet again hits out at Pakistani government
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ISLAMABAD – Former US envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad continued to remain up in arms against the Pakistani government as he shared another tweet, despite being told to avoid commenting on the country’s internal matters.
Foreign Office earlier reacted strongly to Khalilzad’s comments and maintained that Pakistan did not need unsolicited advice on the challenges it faces.
Despite being told to avoid comments, the former diplomat again shared a tweet, expressing distress over Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah’s remarks against ousted prime minister Imran Khan, calling it incitement to violence.
He said the interior minister's statement that ‘either Imran Khan exists or we is shocking and should be rejected by all god-fearing and law-abiding Pakistanis.
Khalilzad called these remarks an incitement to violence against the populist leader, calling on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to publicly disassociate himself from Sanaullah’s comments. He linked such thinking with Pakistan's dysfunctionality. “If that does not change, the country will continue to be mired in crisis,” he cautioned.
Zalamay Khalilzad’s comments do not represent US foreign policy
Zalmay Khalilzad has sparked new debate as he cautioned the Pakistan government about the potential consequences of ousting Imran Khan from national politics.
His comments prompted a strong reaction from Islamabad and now the Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the US Department of State cleared the air about the statements of foreign policy expert.
In a press briefing, Vedant Patel of the US State Department said Washington has nothing to do with Zalmay Khalilzad's statements about Pakistani politics.
Patel responded to a query when he was asked that Khalilzad's comments are kind of expressing the sentiments of the US Government. To which, Mr. Patel said Khalilzad is a private citizen and does not speak for this administration. His activities on social platforms are done in his private capacity and do not represent US foreign policy in any manner.
