 "US President Donald Trump. Reuters File")
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former top US diplomat for Afghanistan, has warned US President Donald Trump about Pakistan’s long history of double game.
The warning came shortly after Trump had a working lunch with Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshall Asim Munir at the White House on Wednesday. Trump said that he was “honoured” to meet Munir and described him as a “smart” man.
Khalilzad told Trump how Pakistan played the United States during the War on Terror era. He noted that, after a decade of search, Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was found in Pakistan.
“During the years of our military presence in Afghanistan, Pakistan took our assistance and at the same time provided support and sanctuary to those who were killing our forces. Similarly, during the war on terror after 9/11, the Pakistani military selectively helped both us and the Al-Qaida terrorists. Where did we find Bin Laden? All cozy in Pakistan near one of Pakistan’s military facilities. And Pakistan still holds Dr. Afidi who helped us find and eliminate Bin Laden. Bottom line: Gen Asim Munir cannot be trusted,” said Khalilzad in a post on X.
Trump’s embrace of Pakistan in his second term has coincided with actions that have turned the relationship with India sour. Since assuming office, Trump has undermined the Indian positions on Operation Sindoor and the Kashmir issue, sought unfair terms in trade talks, and formed an alliance with jihadists in West Asia . On the other hand, he has sought a reset in US-Pakistan ties that had hit a low under the previous Joe Biden administration — Biden notably never spoke to his Pakistani counterpart in four years.
Khalilzad explains what Munir wants from Trump
Munir told Trump that Munir, the de facto ruler of Pakistan, was appeasing Trump to secure his interests and those of the Pakistani Army.
Khalilzad said that even though he has got himself promoted to field marshall and has found some popularity lately, he continues to face widespread opposition in Pakistan over the incarceration of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and the crackdown on his party Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI).
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Khalilzad listed four objectives that Munir has with his dealings with Trump:
Get US investment in Pakistan’s minerals via military-owned companies
Get Trump to outsource the protection of US interests in Afghanistan, including on terrorism, to the Pakistani military.
In return, Munir would offer to be a medium in communication with China.
Secure greater legitimacy and to create the impression that Trump endorses his de facto status as Pakistan’s ruler-for-life.
Considering the relationship between Pakistan’s army and terrorists in Afghanistan, outsourcing the protection of US interests in Afghanistan would be a “formula for utter disaster”, according to Khalilzad.