According to Iraf News Agency, on Wednesday, January 7, Khalilzad in his latest statement responded to remarks by Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the spokesperson of the Pakistani military, about the Doha Agreement. Khalilzad said: “It is a misunderstanding to assume that the Doha Agreement covers the issues between Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
He added that a new agreement could transform the relationship between Kabul and Islamabad, compelling both sides to ensure that no individual or group— including ISIS and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)—use their territories to threaten the other country.
Khalilzad also suggested that a third-party body should oversee the implementation of such an agreement to ensure trust and compliance by both sides.
Referring to his recent discussions with Taliban officials, Khalilzad noted that they were willing to engage in negotiations on this matter, and now “the ball is in Pakistan’s hands.”
Pakistan Army: Afghanistan is the Epicenter of Terrorism
Meanwhile, Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the Director-General of the Pakistan Army’s Public Relations, in a recent press conference, described Afghanistan as the “epicenter of terrorist activity” and claimed that Afghan citizens had been involved in major terrorist attacks in Pakistan last year.
Presenting extensive statistics from counterterrorism operations in 2025, he stated that Pakistan’s security forces had conducted over 75,000 intelligence-driven operations, averaging more than 200 operations per day.
According to Chaudhry, 5,397 terrorist attacks occurred during this period, 71% of which were recorded in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
He added that 2,597 terrorists had been killed, and 1,235 security forces personnel and civilians had lost their lives. Additionally, 27 suicide attacks were carried out, two of which involved women.
Chaudhry also claimed that the Taliban had failed to uphold their commitments under the Doha Agreement, and that Afghanistan’s soil had become a “haven for terrorist groups.”
He labeled the Taliban as the “founding organization of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan” and referred to India as the “largest financial supporter of terrorism in Pakistan.”
Chaudhry further stated that the military equipment worth $7.2 billion left behind in Afghanistan after the U.S. withdrawal is now in the hands of the Taliban and accessible to terrorist groups through the black market. He concluded with a sharp statement: “Terrorists must be eradicated.”
Taliban’s Response: Pakistan’s Remarks Are Provocative
In response to these claims, Zabihollah Mujahid, the Taliban’s spokesperson, condemned the statements made by the Pakistani military, calling them “irresponsible and provocative.”
He emphasized that Afghanistan is a sovereign country with a strong security structure, and no threats are emanating from its soil towards other nations.
Mujahid warned that the use of threatening language against the Afghan people is unacceptable, urging Pakistani officials to focus on their own internal issues rather than engaging in negative propaganda against Kabul. He called on them to adopt a responsible approach, taking into account the sensitivity of bilateral relations.
