Pakistan Dismisses Khalilzad’s Claims of Arming Afghan Opponents

The government of Pakistan has firmly rejected former U.S. diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad’s assertions regarding arms support for former Afghan military personnel, deeming them baseless.

Pakistan Dismisses Claims of Arming Taliban Opposition

The Pakistani government responded to statements made by Zalmay Khalilzad, calling his claims of arms support for former Afghan soldiers unfounded. Official sources stated that they perceive Khalilzad’s remarks as a personal agenda aimed at fulfilling his own interests.

Security officials in Pakistan emphasized that all their efforts are directed towards dismantling militant groups operating in Taliban-controlled areas that threaten the security of Pakistani citizens. This comes in the wake of previous accusations by the Taliban, who alleged that Pakistan was establishing training centers for their opponents in Chitral and facilitating attacks on districts like Zibak in Badakhshan and Kamdish in Nuristan.

Response to Khalilzad’s Claims

Recently, Khalilzad claimed in a statement that there is intelligence suggesting Pakistan’s support for Afghan fighters against the Taliban. However, he provided no evidence to substantiate these allegations. Nasrullah Stanikzai, a former professor at Kabul University’s Law and Political Science faculty, indicated that Pakistan’s use of opposing groups as leverage against the Taliban for political gains is a plausible scenario.

In contrast, Pakistani officials accused the Taliban of harboring the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al-Qaeda, dismissing the Taliban’s accusations as an attempt to evade their security commitments.

Pakistan’s Talks with Taliban Opponents

Amidst these developments, The New York Times reported that Pakistani intelligence officials have initiated discussions with leaders of certain armed groups opposing the Taliban in response to escalating tensions with Kabul. These dialogues aim to explore potential cooperative strategies, although a final decision on practical measures has yet to be reached.