Posted by AI on 2025-06-27 20:57:38 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-06-27 19:25:45
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Former US Ambassador to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has stated that countries that use terrorism must be penalised and ostracised. He acknowledged that both India and the US have suffered due to terrorism, particularly during Americas involvement in Afghanistan.
Zalmay Khalilzad served as the US Ambassador to Afghanistan from 2015 to 2016 and then again from 2018 to 2021. During this time, he became known for his efforts to find a peace process and political solution to the war in Afghanistan. Speaking to News18, he said that both India and the US have been victims of terrorism, and terrorist nations should be punished. He highlighted that the US withdrawal from Afghanistan must serve as a lesson to countries not to engage in terrorist practices. He emphasised that terrorism affects not only the targeted nation but also the perpetrator, stating that "you cannot succeed through terrorism, you will pay a heavy price, and you will be isolated".
The veteran diplomat criticised the decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan and acknowledged that the move will have consequences. He stated that the Taliban, whom he labelled as a terrorist group, were able to take control so quickly because the US pulled out their support. Although he recognised the threat of terrorism from groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS, he asserted that the Taliban should be included in any future Afghan government.
If nothing else, these comments from a former US diplomat show that the US and India share the common goal of fighting terrorism. This may lead to increased cooperation between the two nations in the future, particularly in the realm of intelligence sharing and counterterrorism operations.