Zalmay Khalilzad is up again, telling half-truths and talking baseless points to undermine Pakistan in its counterterrorism (CT) operations. His latest statements after the precision attack by Pakistan on October 17, 2025, on the Khost and Paktika provinces of Afghanistan, shows partisan indignation and a personal score to settle, and nothing more than that. The strikes which were aimed at militant hideouts of the Kharji Gul Bahadur Group, were a direct response to cross-border terrorist attacks and a suicide bombing in North Waziristan which martyred a Pakistani soldier.
Khalilzad Pattern of Hostility and Selective Outrage
The animosity by Khalilzad against Pakistan is not new. He emerges with usual indignation and unwarranted allegations, whenever Pakistan acts against terrorists who pose a threat to its security. So, his recent remarks are not an exception.
By defining the defensive measure taken by Pakistan as an act of aggression, he shows that he is supporting the anti-Pakistan lobby groups and supporters of terrorism.
What Khalilzad conveniently fails to remember is that the operation by Pakistan was intelligence based, and was executed to precision, and it precisely strike those who were directly involved in recent attacks. The very group struck was the Kharji Gul Bahadur faction, which had carried out the deadly suicide bombing in North Waziristan just hours before the strikes. This, demonstrating to the world that Pakistan is targeting civilians, and ignoring the fact that there are soldiers dying defending their nation is not merely disingenuous, but is a malicious act.
Khalilzad, Distorting the Ceasefire
Moreover, among the most obvious distortions that Khalilzad does is his presentation of the scenario as a negation of a so-called ceasefire. He conveniently disregards the fact that any recent ceasefire is between the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban government, and not between the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as well as its splinter groups hiding within Afghanistan. Besides. The terrorist groups, such as the Gul Bahadur, have been carrying cross-border attacks with impunity, taking advantage of the Afghan soil as a haven. The strikes by Pakistan were thus a defensive and required action within the international law, which would be neutralizing the impending threats. So, it was not a violation of peace.
Hence, to say that this is not the case, as Khalilzad did, is either to misinterpret the bare facts, or to falsify them. The latter appears much more proper considering his track record.
Recycling Propaganda Narratives
The statements made by Khalilzad are all familiar, as they fit the exact replay of TTP propagandists and their niche within malevolent regional networks. These talks are designed to provoke feelings, discredit Pakistan and distract attention from the true culprits, which are terrorists that keep on attacking the other side of the border under the pretext of the civilians.
The intelligence based attacks by Pakistan have consistently been targeted at the individuals who are the perpetrators of terrorism. Besides, the military of Pakistan wants to eradicate terrorism, which is confirmed by years of counterterror operations. It is because this menace has taken the lives of thousands of Pakistani people and cost the nation billions of dollars. Thus, it looks like that the sayings of Khalilzad are aimed at discrediting the efforts and sacrifices of Pakistan.
From Failed Peacemaker to Bitter Commentator
Besides, it is easy to understand the bitterness of Khalilzad. After being perceived as the architect of the Doha process, he was later pushed to the margin as his style of doing things could not bring about sustainable peace in Afghanistan. He has failed to gain sustainability, even after years of American influence and investment. Resultantly, he was left desperate enough to talk baseless about Pakistan, the sole nation which still experiences the spill over of the Afghan instability.
It is ironical how he can lecture others on counterterrorism. It is because he was the person who was also responsible for the fall of the Afghan state. His self-righteousness is a sham, when one remembers that due to his policies chaos was created, which allowed the terror groups to thrive in. Thus, his statements portray him as a man of dual nature.
Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Record Speaks for Itself
Furthermore, the history of Pakistan in the war on terrorism is not only unrivalled in the region, but it is also undeniable. Between Swat and Waziristan, the Pakistani troops have sabotaged terrorist networks, killed major leaders, and established state authority back in the regions previously controlled by militants. The sacrifice of its soldiers and citizens is huge, as more than 80,000 lives have been lost in its war on terror over the past twenty years. However, as opposed to being noticed, Pakistan is still subject to backlash campaigns by personalities such as Khalilzad whose interpretation of the situation on the ground is informed by political resentment, and not on reality.
The strikes of October 17 were no departure from the Pakistan CT principles, but a follow-up of its will to protect its population against the cross-border terrorism. The hideouts of Gul Bahadur were in the Khost and Paktika provinces of Afghanistan with the help of intelligence and precision guided munitions, which were deployed to neutralize them. Hence, it is a classic case of a defensive counterterror operation.
The Real Story of Rhetoric of Khalilzad
Fundamentally, the story of Khalilzad is aimed at two things. First, it is to demonize Pakistan, and second, to distract the world from the inability of Afghanistan to contain the terrorist groups. It is a cynical move that weakens the stability of the regions and encourages extremists that are surviving on political divides.
But the world does not fail to notice these manipulations.
The position of Pakistan is also very clear as it respects the sovereignty of Afghanistan but does not accept cross-border terrorism.
The October strikes were no war, it was a self-defense, as the moves against the Pakistani soil continued without any restriction.
Finally, the conspiracy and malicious propaganda of Zalmay Khalilzad could be echoed by the individuals, who want to accuse Pakistan of all the crises in the region, but it cannot cover the reality. His hypocritical anger, his rehearsed stories and his false righteousness imply no ideals, but revenge. The action taken by Pakistan on October 17 was legal, reasonable and needed as it was against terrorists, and was not against innocent people.
So, this episode is another blow to the credibility of Khalilzad, who has been ruined over the years by diplomatic failures and expediency. This man who could bring peace in Afghanistan, is today merely relying on false criticisms to achieve relevance. Pakistan, in the meantime, is still battling terrorism. It is not fighting to get applause, but to survive and bring stability in an area, which still has the negative aftermaths of the policies that Khalilzad contributed to developing.
⚠ Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this article are exclusively those of the author and do not reflect the official stance, policies, or perspectives of the Platform.
