INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Former US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, warned on Wednesday that turning back on Afghanistan
would be a mistake, adding that the Doha Agreement can be the basis for Donald Trump administration&s engagement with the Islamic
Emirate.Speaking at the Global and National Security Institute in the University of South Florida, Khalilzad emphasized that the United
States considers its interests in Afghanistan
He added that the issues in this regard include prisoners, terrorism, weapons, competition with other superpowers, and resources.&My
judgment would be turning our back is a mistake, would not be prudent, would not be wise, and revenge for what happened would not be a good
motive to shape the policy
It should be future-oriented as to what serves US interests, and engagement would be necessary in my view,& Khalilzad said.The former US
diplomat said that the biggest challenge is whether &we can get Afghans to get to agree to anything together.&He also said that there are
alternative ways to engage with the Islamic Emirate in the light of the new circumstances and the assessment by the Trump administration of
US interests, US objectives, and US grand strategy.Khalilzad warned that the Islamic Emirate&s refusal to form an inclusive government is a
mistake and will create problems.This comes as the Islamic Emirate has repeatedly claimed that it is committed to the Doha Agreement and
that the current government in Afghanistan is inclusive.The post Khalilzad: Turning our back on Afghanistan would not be wise first appeared
