The “Indecent Proposal” of Zalmay Khalilzad

The “Indecent Proposal” of Zalmay Khalilzad

Dr. Jassim Taqui

The former US  ambassador to Afghanistan and Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad found a field day during a US Congress hearing-“Pakistan: Friend or foe?”. He attempted to influence US lawmakers to declare Pakistan a state sponsor terrorism and to impose economic sanction if Islamabad did not eliminate the alleged terrorist safe havens on its territories.

He went on to claim that ISI was a state within a state on the one hand and concurring with notion of Tricia Bacon that ISI was implementing the policies of Pakistan army on the other.

Ostensibly, Khalilzad was short of ideas, confused and irrational. He exposed himself fully before the Congress and Public opinion as anti-Pakistan lobbyist whose only objective is to promote the Indian agenda. He acted as an Afghan and not as an American citizen by vitiating the atmosphere between Washington and Islamabad in a matter that goes at variance with the US national interests.

Most probably, Khalilzad was infuriated by the Statement of Senator John McCain in which he paid rich tribute to the role of Gen. Raheel Sharif in the ongoing war against terrorist outfits. McCain was so impressed with Zarb-e-Azab Operation that he suggested an extension in Gen. Raheel’s term as COAS.

However, the Indecent Proposal of Khalilzad fell like a house of card when US State Department Spokesman declared, “It is in the US’s long-term national interests to support Pakistan’s effort to combat terrorism.”