Key Takeaways
- Pakistan categorically rejects Zalmay Khalilzad's allegations of arming Afghan fighters.
- The information ministry says Khalilzad's claims are baseless and misleading.
- Pakistan emphasizes its role in counterterrorism operations against terrorist organizations.
Pakistan has firmly rejected the baseless and misleading allegations made by Zalmay Khalilzad, former US ambassador to Afghanistan, regarding the country's alleged involvement in arming Afghan fighters to fight Taliban and their supporters.
In a statement issued through the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s Fact Check account, Khalilzad's sweeping assertions were described as speculative narratives aimed at propelling his personal agenda to support the Taliban regime.
The ministry emphasized that it is particularly misleading to conflate Pakistan's legitimate counterterrorism operations against terrorist organizations operating from within Afghan Taliban-controlled areas with allegations of recruiting Afghan nationals or sponsoring armed groups inside Afghanistan.
Pakistan maintains its commitment to the fight against terrorism, stating that it has made significant sacrifices in protecting regional peace and security.
The information ministry pointed out that successive UN monitoring reports have documented the continued presence and activities of terrorist organizations, including the TTP and Al-Qaeda, within Afghanistan.
It further highlighted that Khalilzad's allegations conveniently divert attention from the Afghan Taliban regime's responsibility to prevent its territory from being used by Indian-sponsored proxies for terrorism against Pakistan.
The ministry concluded by stating that Khalilzad's unsubstantiated claims only expose his skewed agenda based on personal views.
