Khalilzad Cautions Anti-Taliban Leaders Against Pakistani Intelligence Influence

Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, has responded to reports of meetings between Pakistani intelligence officials and Afghan political leaders in Türkiye, warning them against becoming pawns of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Khalilzad stated that Pakistan’s security apparatus is likely attempting to use these leaders as leverage in negotiations with the Taliban to extract concessions, only to abandon them later—an experience some have faced in the past.

On Monday, Khalilzad wrote on X: "There are reports of meetings between Pakistan’s ISI officials and former Afghan leaders who now live in Turkiye. If true, this is a bad sign."

He suggested that these reports indicate Pakistan’s intention to exploit former Afghan leaders for propaganda purposes and as recruitment agents for impoverished Afghan youth, promoting violence and death in Afghanistan while the leaders themselves reside in comfort in exile.

Khalilzad further emphasised that former Afghan leaders must exercise caution to avoid becoming instruments in ISI’s strategic manoeuvres.

Earlier, sources told Afghanistan International that a high-ranking delegation from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was scheduled to meet with former Afghan officials and jihadist figures in Istanbul.

According to these sources, prominent figures such as Abdul Rashid Dostum, Salahuddin Rabbani, Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, Mohammad Mohaqiq, and Karim Khalili were expected to attend these discussions.

The objective of the meeting was reportedly to increase Pakistan’s engagement with political opponents of the Taliban and to facilitate the reopening of their political offices in Islamabad.

Khalid Pashtoon, spokesperson for the National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan, denied reports that the council’s leadership had met with the Pakistani intelligence delegation. However, he stated that if Pakistan were to send a delegation for peace talks and to improve the situation in Afghanistan, the council would be open to discussions.

Pashtoon remarked, "If Pakistan wants to meet with the Resistance Council, it is essentially a form of engagement, and such meetings should not be considered wrong or sinful."

Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan and the subsequent rise in security concerns in Pakistan, Islamabad has repeatedly accused Afghan Taliban leaders of harbouring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. However, the Taliban have denied these claims, insisting that Afghan territory will not be used against any country.