Former US Ambassador to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has publicly challenged Pakistan's account of failed diplomatic efforts with Afghanistan, urging lawmakers in Islamabad to press their government for specifics on what assurances it sought from Kabul and why the Taliban's response was deemed inadequate. His remarks, shared on 22 June via a post on X, come days after Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared that diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan had broken down.

What Khalilzad Said

Khalilzad noted that during a recent session of Pakistan's National Assembly, several lawmakers raised concerns about Islamabad's growing reliance on force rather than diplomacy to resolve its disputes with Afghanistan. He argued that those lawmakers missed a critical opportunity to demand clarity. In his post on X, Khalilzad wrote, 'Representatives who rightly support diplomacy could have asked what specific commitments and assurances Pakistan has demanded from Afghanistan and what Afghanistan's apparently unsatisfactory response has been. Unfortunately, this opportunity to clarify the matter was missed.'

He also called on Pakistani representatives to actively push their government toward a negotiated agreement — one under which neither country would permit groups or individuals to use its territory to threaten the other's security.

Pakistan's Position and the Diplomatic Breakdown

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had stated that talks with Afghanistan had failed because the Taliban did not offer sufficient assurances or commitments regarding Pakistan's security concerns. However, Khalilzad pointed out that Asif did not specify what those commitments were, or explain why Kabul's response fell short.

This comes amid deeply strained ties between the two neighbours. Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of providing safe havens to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has carried out attacks inside Pakistani territory. The Taliban, in turn, has accused Pakistan of sheltering and supporting the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) and other groups hostile to Afghanistan.

Afghanistan's Stated Position

According to officials cited by Khalilzad, Afghanistan has expressed readiness to provide written guarantees, provided Pakistan offers similar commitments in return. Afghan officials also indicated that the Taliban has cooperated on security matters through bilateral mechanisms, including the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), and has expressed openness to involving third-party verification mechanisms.

Among the steps Afghan authorities reportedly cited: a religious decree issued by the Taliban banning Afghan nationals from participating in attacks on Pakistani soil; the relocation of Pakistani refugees who had settled near the Durand Line during Afghanistan's previous government; and participation in official and semi-official dialogues mediated by third countries. Afghan authorities also claimed to have taken verifiable action against individuals and groups found violating Afghanistan's stated policy of not allowing its territory to be used against other nations.

Khalilzad's Challenge to Islamabad

Khalilzad framed his intervention as a direct challenge to Pakistan's narrative. 'If the above points are accurately stated, it appears that Afghanistan is prepared for a serious solution. So why does Pakistan claim that diplomacy has failed? What are Islamabad's specific problems with Afghanistan's proposals? The people and parliament of Pakistan have a right to know the answers to these questions,' he stated.

Notably, Khalilzad — who served as the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation and was a key architect of the 2020 Doha Agreement — carries significant credibility on Afghanistan-Pakistan dynamics. His public intervention signals that international observers are closely watching whether Islamabad's diplomatic impasse with Kabul is a genuine breakdown or a matter of undisclosed terms.

What Comes Next

The core question now is whether Pakistan's parliament will take up Khalilzad's call for greater transparency, and whether the two governments can return to a structured dialogue framework. With the TTP threat intensifying inside Pakistan and cross-border tensions showing no sign of easing, the stakes of continued diplomatic stalemate remain high for both countries — and for regional stability.