Zalmay Khalilzad’s recent statement, suggesting that Pakistan should pursue a Doha-style agreement with Afghanistan, must be met with not only scepticism but firm disagreement. It overlooks fundamental shifts within Pakistan and the region, and dangerously misunderstands the present reality. His argument fails on several key fronts and ignores the tangible progress Pakistan has made in securing its own future.

Let’s address this directly: Pakistan today is unrecognisable from the hesitant nation of the past. The nation has moved with conviction into a new era of resolve. There is a powerful and unifying clarity here: the political leadership, our institutions, and the public stand firmly together against the threat of terrorism. This isn’t mere policy; it’s a national consensus, a collective decision that has closed the door on the old debates and hesitations. Pakistan’s will is unified, and its direction is clear.

Khalilzad’s proposal also asks Pakistan to place its trust in a partner whose credibility has evaporated on the world stage. The Taliban regime in Kabul has squandered any goodwill it........

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