Ayaz Gul VOA News October 8, 2018 ISLAMABAD — The Taliban has ordered its fighters to attack authorities and security forces who are helping organize this month’s parliamentary elections in Afghanistan, denouncing the process as “fake” and “completely bogus.” The Islamist insurgency in a statement issued Monday called on candidates and voters to boycott the polls,
Ayaz Gul VOA News September 23, 2018 ISLAMABAD — The Afghan Taliban has warned the United States against meeting “fake” and “fraudulent” insurgent delegations, saying such contacts could “seriously harm any possible genuine process of dialogue.” The Islamist insurgency issued the warning following media reports of meetings between American and unidentified “high-ranking” Taliban officials in Dubai
Associated Press: In the past, Khalilzad has called on the U.S. to declare Pakistan a terrorist state, saying it harbors insurgents. The Trump administration has embraced a similar position, recently suspending $300 million in aid to Pakistan, saying it isn’t doing enough to eliminate Taliban safe havens on its territory. Click here to read more (external
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty September 5, 2018 U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said late on September 4 that he has appointed former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad to be his special adviser on Afghanistan. “Ambassador Khalilzad is going to join the State Department team to assist us in the reconciliation effort, so he
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty August 23, 2018 U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to appoint Zalmay Khalilzad, an Afghan-born former U.S. ambassador to Kabul, as his special envoy on Afghanistan, media reported on August 22. The decision reported by Reuters and AP, citing anonymous U.S. officials, would send a signal that the United
Eisa Ayoobi via The Globe Post: Ashraf Ghani and Zalmay Khalilzad have been the most influential Afghan-Americans to impact U.S.-Afghanistan relations over the decades. Their education and Washington-based experience have earned them rhetoric sway and a vastly influential network of friends. However, their ethnonationalism-aspired Afghanistan “vision” has cost the U.S. thousands of lives and “trillions of
RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan January 4, 2018 Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan and the United Nations, expressed support for President Donald Trump’s tough line against Islamabad and said the administration is likely studying various methods to put pressure on Pakistan for what he called its lack of cooperation in the fight against
Steve Herman VOA News November 13, 2016 MUSCAT, OMAN — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign rhetoric has sowed anxiety and confusion about the foreign policy path he will pursue. During the Republican primaries and in the general election contest against former secretary of state Hillary Clinton the wealthy businessman was vague on some key issues, including
Tolo News: Pakistan’s use of extremist and terrorist proxies is a significant contributor to the global menace of Islamic extremism, former top U.S diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad said, recommending that Pakistan should be listed as a state sponsor of terrorism. Khalilzad said at the U.S House of Foreign Affairs Committee that Pakistan views the Taliban as an effective
Khaama Press: A former top American diplomat has said the United States should adopt a policy of total isolation against Pakistan, harshly criticizing the country for supporting the Afghan militant groups. In an interview with the Times of India, Khalilzad said the step by US should be taken to send a signal that it faces the prospect