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Root of Pakistan’s policy toward Afghanistan is Durand Line, says Khalilzad
Khalilzad also accused Iran of exploiting Afghan refugees in the Syrian war, saying: “A number of Afghans were sent to Syria and were killed there, and they had been sent by Iran.”
Zalmay Khalilzad, former US Special Representative for Afghanistan, has criticized Pakistan’s approach toward Kabul, stating that tensions between the two neighbors are rooted in the long-disputed Durand Line.
In an exclusive interview with Ariana News, Khalilzad said: “Pakistan tries to solve Afghanistan’s internal problems by first creating those problems, and then presenting itself to the world as a power capable of resolving them. This approach, which has been practiced over the past several decades, still continues. The root of Pakistan’s policy is the issue of the Durand Line.”
He stressed that the repetition of Pakistan’s post-independence policies toward Afghanistan must be prevented and suggested that a fundamental dialogue between Kabul and Islamabad could help resolve challenges — provided Pakistan engages sincerely.
Khalilzad also accused Iran of exploiting Afghan refugees in the Syrian war, saying: “A number of Afghans were sent to Syria and were killed there, and they had been sent by Iran.”
He described Tehran’s deportation of Afghan refugees as driven by “unjust and irrational sentiments.”
On Washington’s stance toward Kabul, Khalilzad said relations remain limited but cooperative in some areas. While clarifying that there is no political relationship between the United States and the Islamic Emirate, he noted there is cooperation on counterterrorism.
He also called Russia’s recognition of the Islamic Emirate a “significant and major step” for Moscow, adding: “This was a major step by Russia. The policy of the new US administration regarding Afghanistan is still under discussion. I hope a decision will be made in the next three months.”
At the same time, Khalilzad criticized the continued closure of schools and universities for Afghan girls by the Islamic Emirate, calling for dialogue and engagement with respected figures from within Afghanistan’s recent history as part of the solution. He emphasized that those who, in
the past two decades, “deprived the Afghan people of exceptional opportunities” should have no role in the country’s future.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday that security risks in Central Asia and developments in Afghanistan are among the primary concerns for the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
The CSTO is a regional military alliance that includes Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
Speaking in Moscow during a meeting with CSTO Secretary-General Taalatbek Masadykov, Lavrov described the region’s security challenges as “central” to the organization’s agenda.
“The problems that are currently among the central ones for the CSTO are new challenges and threats. I am referring to the situation in the Central Asian region of collective security, as well as everything related to what is happening in Afghanistan,” he said.
He praised Masadykov as “one of the leading experts” on Central Asian security, noting that his experience could enhance coordination and increase the effectiveness of allied actions.
Similar to NATO, the CSTO considers an attack on one member state as an attack on all.
Countries in the region have always expressed concern about security threats from Afghanistan. The Islamic Emirate, however, has dismissed these concerns and assured that it will not allow Afghanistan’s soil to be used against another country.
The Ministry of Higher Education of Afghanistan has announced that the leader of the Islamic Emirate has approved the establishment of a faculty dedicated to “Prophetic Medicine.”
According to the ministry, this new faculty will play a vital role in advancing medical sciences and training skilled healthcare professionals across the country.
Afghanistan’s Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, Noorullah Noori, has announced that the long-delayed demarcation and renovation of border markers along the Afghanistan–Iran frontier will officially begin in the near future.
According to a statement from the ministry, Noori made the remarks during a meeting with Iran’s ambassador to Kabul, Ali-Reza Bikdeli.
He assured the Iranian side that the Islamic Emirate is fully committed to accelerating the process and resolving any challenges that may arise during implementation.
In a separate statement, the Iranian Embassy in Kabul said Bikdeli underscored the importance of bilateral cooperation on border issues, describing it as a key factor in strengthening and expanding overall relations between the two countries.
Officials from both sides agreed nearly three months ago to resume the border-marker renovation project, which had remained stalled for the past seven years.
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