Today Special Envoy for Afghan peace Zalmay Khalilzad testified to the House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on National Security. Things which struck out: 1/n oversight.house.gov/legislation/he…
1. In his opening statement, Khalilzad criticizes Afghan leaders for the civil war in the 90s -- saying they "did not behave responsibly or judiciously." oversight.house.gov/sites/democrat…
2. He says the US will "continue to advocate our values, including electoral democracy, rights of women and
religious minorities, [but] recognize that only Afghans can find a sustainable formula that is unique to their history and culture." oversight.house.gov/sites/democrat…
3. He says the Taliban has taken "some positive steps" related to al-Qaida but looking for more. When pressed by @Malinowski if Taliban has asked followers to stop cooperation with al-Qaida, Khalilzad says "I need a different setting to comment on that."
4. Khalilzad identifies potential spoilers: "Agreement and success is not assured. There are spoilers who prefer the status quo to a peace agreement, because personal wealth, access to money, access to power, these are important considerations."
5. On Pakistan, he mentions army chief Bajwa's view -- and not Imran Khan's -- on regional peace and says Pakistan is cooperating:
6. On being challenged by @Malinowski that the Taliban have really only committed to one thing, which is to not shoot at US troops as they withdraw, Khalilzad appears to lament the narrow set of options available to the negotiators.
7. After a tough exchange on what Taliban have really committed to and if US conceded too much (like prisoners), @Malinowski tells Khalilzad: "...what you are selling us is not peace, but a fairy tale to make us feel better about leaving Afghanistan." n/n
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
Interesting and unusual interview of Chinese consul general in Karachi Li Bijian on Pakistan’s political situation, challenges facing Chinese investors and security situation. Some highlights: geo.tv/latest/430300-…
Says the new coalition government is “very impressive”, Shehbaz is “bulldozer prime minister.”
Offers political advice to the coalition government:
After Pak missed the July 2 IMF board meeting & the currency started crashing, it was overdetermined that Pak will not be able to wait till the next meeting in August & ask for an early disbursal of the IMF tranche. So in that sense I am not surprised this happened. But…
…fact that Bajwa made this call to Dep Sec Sherman tells me the crisis has deepened, other options stand exhausted, and the economy is teetering on the brink. Worth remembering that last week, Pak PM assistant Fatemi also met Sherman. state.gov/deputy-secreta…
We will see if the US gov’t is able (& willing?) to do anything. Still overall the US has been working with Pak on various issues since late last year — despite shadow of the US withdrawal from AFG, memory of Pak’s support of Taliban, as well as Khan’s regime change theatrics.
He is also tracking negotiations with the IMF and IMF's asks of Pak. In this story he notes Pakistan needs to assure IMF of Saudi financing and reminds that Pak needs $41 billion over next 12 months to fund debt repayments and boost FOREX reserves:
Al-Qaeda is more settled and Zawahiri more comfortable and communicative since the Taliban’s takeover. It doesn’t pose an immediate threat from AFG due to lack of capability; it also doesn’t wish to embarrass or make things difficult for the Taliban.
Al-Qaeda has a committee called the Hittin Committee, which manages global leadership. Next in line for the group after Zawahiri are core’s Adl, Maghrebi, AQIM’s Yazib Mebrak and Shabaab’s Diriye; Idlib-based Hurras leader Suri is also on the committee. Hittin has demoted AQAP.
.@IKPeshawar reports Pak & TTP have "agreed to extend the ceasefire and continue peace talks following separate meetings with Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund, Acting Prime Minister of the ‘Islamic Emerate of Afghanistan (IEA)’ at his office the other day." dawn.com/news/1692383/i…
Confirms presidential pardon for TTP leaders Muslim, Mehmood Khan: "GoP, sources said, had demonstrated its seriousness by acceding to some of the TTP’s demands...presidential pardon to two key militant commanders, including TTP Swat spokesman Muslim Khan, was one such demand."
"...days of “intense and extensive negotiations” in the Afghan capital attended by senior level delegations from the two sides that at one point seemed close to breakdown...Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is the central mediator, helped bring the talks back on track, sources said."