ISLAMABAD: Recent statements by former United States Special Representativefor Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad regarding the DohaAgreement have sparked debate, as he suggested Pakistan pursue a similarsecurity pact with the interim Afghan government while questioninginterpretations of the original accord’s scope.
In early January 2026, Khalilzad responded to criticisms from Pakistaniofficials about the Afghan Taliban’s failure to honor counterterrorismcommitments under the 2020 Doha Agreement. He clarified that the accord wasbilateral between the US and Afghanistan, not encompassingPakistan-Afghanistan issues.
However, evidence from international reports indicates persistent terroristactivity in Afghanistan. The United Nations Analytical Support andSanctions Monitoring Team’s December 2025 report documented over 20terrorist organizations operating in the country, including Al-Qaeda andTehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
This presence contradicts the Doha Agreement’s core provision requiring theTaliban to prevent Afghan soil from being used for terrorism against the USand its allies. Khalilzad’s comments appear to downplay these documentedrealities.
Khalilzad proposed a new agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan, withmutual commitments against harboring groups like TTP and third-partymonitoring. He claimed recent discussions suggested Taliban openness tonegotiations.
Yet, regional security concerns persist, with Pakistan facing increasedattacks attributed to TTP sanctuaries in Afghanistan. Over 600 complexassaults were reported in 2025, many involving Afghan nationals.
The Doha Agreement, signed in February 2020, facilitated US troopwithdrawal in exchange for Taliban pledges on counterterrorism andintra-Afghan talks. Critics argue the Taliban has not fully severed tieswith Al-Qaeda.
United States lawmakers, including Congressman Bill Huizenga, havehighlighted Afghanistan’s resurgence as a terrorist hub despite Dohacommitments. Huizenga warned of regrouping militant groups threateningregional stability.
The 2022 killing of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul underTaliban rule further underscored ongoing affiliations. Reports suggestAl-Qaeda benefits from a permissive environment.
Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts contrast sharply, with sustainedoperations against domestic threats despite economic challenges. Islamabadviews Afghan safe havens as the primary source of instability.
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Khalilzad’s narrative risks diluting accountability for the Taliban’sobligations under the Doha Accord. Reinterpreting it as non-binding onregional actors ignores its territory-specific counterterrorism clauses.
International consensus, reflected in UN reports, affirms Afghanistan’srole in hosting terrorist entities. This undermines claims of fullcompliance by the interim government.
Efforts to shift responsibility toward new bilateral pacts may overlook theoriginal accord’s unmet provisions. Sustained pressure remains essentialfor enforcement.
The evolving discourse highlights tensions in post-withdrawal Afghanistanpolicy. Balancing diplomacy with evidence-based assessments is crucial forregional security.
Source:https://www.dawn.com/news/1965715/zalmay-khalilzad-asks-islamabad-to-have-fresh-accord-with-kabul
Tags: Zalmay Khalilzad, Doha Agreement, Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Tehrik-e-TalibanPakistan, Afghanistan
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