The former US special envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, said on Saturday that Pakistan will host a meeting of Afghan exiles and politicians opposed to the Taliban on Aug. 25–26.
In a post on X, Khalilzad said some participants support the violent overthrow of the Taliban.
“Afghan citizens are entitled to their political views, but Pakistan’s seeming support of them by hosting their conference is hugely unwise and an intended provocation,” he wrote. “I would say the same if the Taliban were hosting a gathering of Pakistanis seeking to topple their military-dominated government. Afghanistan and Pakistan have an enormous deficit of trust and cooperation. This step by Islamabad can only achieve the opposite. Immature, irresponsible and unfortunate.”
He warned that the move could further strain already tense relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Khalilzad did not provide details about who would attend the meeting.
The National Resistance Front confirmed to Amu TV that it was invited but will not participate.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has not commented on the planned gathering.
The development comes after Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi postponed a planned trip to Pakistan last week.
But sources form Pakistan said that the meeting is in an unofficial level under the title of the Pak-Afghan Dialogue “Towards Unity and Trust”. Sources said the event is an academic initiative for peace and stability.
The forum is led by SASSI University and civil society, designed for confidence-building, the sources said.
The sources confirmed that the meeting will take place on 25, and 26.
