Former U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad urged Pakistan to abandon its military-first approach, calling instead for political dialogue with Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan to address escalating violence.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. envoy for Afghanistan peace, has urged Pakistan to rethink its approach as violence escalates between security forces and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants.
Writing on the social media platform X on Sunday, September 14, Khalilzad said the mounting deaths of Pakistani troops and civilians show that military reliance cannot end the crisis.
He criticized Pakistan’s leadership for lacking a coherent strategy against the insurgents, arguing that the time has come to replace battlefield tactics with a political dialogue.
Khalilzad pointed out that in the past Islamabad consistently advised Washington and Kabul to negotiate with the Afghan Taliban, but now must follow its own advice.
He further stressed that the Afghan Taliban should contribute positively by assisting Pakistan in reaching a settlement rather than allowing tensions to spiral.
Khalilzad’s intervention highlights growing doubts about Islamabad’s security-first policy and raises questions about its long-term capacity to manage the TTP insurgency.
His call for negotiations signals wider concern that without political engagement, Pakistan risks deepening instability at home and further straining its regional relations.
