Comments by Pakistan’s Defense Minister regarding the past war in Afghanistan have drawn sharp reactions from some former American diplomats.
On Monday, Khawaja Asif told Pakistan’s Parliament that Pakistan’s cooperation with the U.S. in Afghanistan was purely for financial gain, not for religion or Islamic values. He described the war as “rented” because Pakistan was benefiting from it.
However, former U.S. diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad accused Pakistan of duplicity in the conflict, saying that while cooperating with the United States, Pakistan was also working with forces opposed to Washington.
On his social media page, Khalilzad posed the question: “Through these partnerships, whose objectives was Pakistan pursuing?” He further asked, “Did the establishment play this double game to benefit from both the U.S. and another power? Will Asif answer why Pakistan’s establishment supported fighters against the United States, and whom did they support?”
Analysts, as usual, also accuse Pakistan of duplicity regarding Afghanistan, claiming that Islamabad has pursued short-term gains through such two-faced policies.
Political analyst Rohullah Hotak said: “Pakistan’s policy regarding Afghanistan is very complex and contradictory. On one hand, Pakistan maintains relations with the Afghan Islamic Emirate, seeks regional connectivity, and engages in talks mediated by Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, it points to internal issues and retaliates against Afghanistan for attacks by TTP, Baloch separatists, and ISIS.”
Political analyst Toryali Zazi added: “All of this is mere propaganda. Khalilzad is also speaking to raise his own profile, and Pakistan makes such statements to secure new projects. These are all games, and believing them would be a big mistake.”
Last year, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif also admitted in an interview with Sky News that for over three decades, Pakistan had been involved in Afghanistan’s wars to please the U.S. and Western countries and achieve their objectives.
