Khalilzad: 'Afghanistan Model' Might Be Used in Potential US War Against Iran

KABUL (Afghan Verified) — Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. diplomat, stated that in a potential U.S. war against Iran, Washington might employ the "Afghanistan model," with Kurds playing a role similar to Afghanistan's Northern Alliance.

Khalilzad made the comments in an interview with Rudaw, a television network in Iraqi Kurdistan. He said there are no indications that the U.S. plans a large-scale ground invasion of Tehran or regime change similar to the 2003 Iraq war.

Instead, he outlined a probable strategy involving heavy airstrikes and precise rocket attacks to weaken Iran's leadership and create conditions for political change. Khalilzad pointed to the potential involvement of Kurds and other Iranian opposition groups, who could mirror the Northern Alliance's role during the U.S. military operation in Afghanistan in 2001.

He recalled that in 2001, a limited number of U.S. special forces and intelligence teams collaborated with local Afghan forces to identify targets for airstrikes. "If the U.S. does not want to deploy large ground forces, relying on local forces like the Kurds with extensive air support could be an effective option," Khalilzad said.

Khalilzad described the situation as a "historic opportunity" for Iranians, particularly Kurds, to pursue political changes.

The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions, though the interview focuses on hypothetical U.S. strategies rather than current events.