Former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has warned that if Washington does not engage with the Islamic Emirate, it could pave the way for China and Russia to expand their influence in Afghanistan. He stressed that US policy towards Afghanistan must be in line with the current realities of the country.
Publish dateMonday 14 September 2026 - 09:37
Story Code : 365278
Former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has said that Washington should align its policy towards the Islamic Emirate with the current realities of Afghanistan.
He warned that reducing US engagement with Afghanistan could create a vacuum that China and Russia could use to expand their influence.
Khalilzad also said the US does not want Afghanistan to move towards instability and chaos again, and therefore, Washington's policy towards the country should be based on the current situation and with a balanced approach.
The statement comes as the US has limited its formal diplomatic engagement with the Islamic Emirate since the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan in 2021, focusing mainly on humanitarian aid and political pressure. In contrast, China and Russia have expanded their economic and diplomatic ties with Kabul and have been actively involved in regional forums.
Khalilzad has been a strong critic of the Biden administration's policies towards Afghanistan and has repeatedly called for Washington's purposeful engagement with the Islamic Emirate to maintain US influence in the region.
According to international experts, Khalilzad's warning shows serious concern among former US officials about the consequences of Washington's reduced engagement with Kabul.
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