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KABUL – Former U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has issued a sharp rebuke to Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif over his recent war threats toward Afghanistan, calling the remarks “reckless in the extreme” and warning that such rhetoric could plunge the region into a catastrophic conflict.
In a post on X, Khalilzad cautioned that allowing “personal hostility” to shape national decisions could have disastrous consequences for both countries. “Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif is threatening Afghanistan with open war. This is reckless in the extreme,” he wrote. “He is known for his personal hostility against Afghans and even against his own country’s Pashtun citizens — but is it wise to let one individual’s sentiments lead Pakistan into a disastrous war?”
Khalilzad, who played a pivotal role in brokering the 2020 Doha Peace Agreement between the United States and the Taliban, emphasized that war between Pakistan and Afghanistan would be a “lose-lose situation” for both nations and must be avoided at all costs. He urged leaders in Islamabad and Kabul to pursue dialogue, diplomacy, and cooperation, stressing that “mutually beneficial agreements and constructive neighborliness are better options.”
His remarks come amid escalating tensions between the two neighbors, following weeks of cross-border clashes and heated exchanges between officials. Islamabad has accused Kabul of harboring armed groups responsible for attacks inside Pakistan—allegations the Taliban government has consistently denied.
Analysts say Khalilzad’s comments serve as a pointed reminder that diplomatic restraint and regional cooperation, rather than aggression, remain the only viable path toward lasting peace and stability in South Asia.
