Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation, criticized Afghanistan’s previous political elites on the country’s 106th Independence Day, accusing them of seeking to reclaim past privileges rather than learning from their failures.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, August 19, Khalilzad wrote: “Former leaders and elites, who failed to seize enormous opportunities over the past two decades, are now trying to regain their previous privileges by repeating past mistakes. A shift in perspective is essential.”
While acknowledging some progress in areas like security, drug control, and infrastructure under the current de facto authorities, Khalilzad admitted that major challenges remain—particularly economic hardship and the denial of education to women and girls.
He also recently criticized an upcoming conference of Afghan exiles scheduled for August 24–25 in Pakistan, calling it misguided. Khalilzad condemned the gathering—organized around the idea of toppling the Taliban through force—and described Islamabad’s support for the event as “reckless.”
