Zalmay Khalilzad Alleges 40-Year History of Pakistani Double-Dealing with US

Former US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has stated that Pakistan has a 40-year history of "double-dealing" with the United States, alleging a long-term pattern of simultaneously cooperating with and acting against US interests.

Khalilzad cited several specific instances to illustrate this pattern of behavior. He mentioned reports that Pakistan secretly allowed Iranian military aircraft to be stationed at a Pakistani airbase, a move he claimed was intended to help the aircraft avoid US attacks. Additionally, he alleged that Pakistan pursued its own nuclear program while providing explicit assurances to the US that it would not develop nuclear weapons.

Addressing the period following the September 11 attacks, Khalilzad stated that Pakistan maintained a dual approach by cooperating with the US in Afghanistan while concurrently supporting militant groups that were fighting US forces. He further claimed that Osama bin Laden was hidden near a Pakistani military center for several years, suggesting a level of complicity or negligence within the Pakistani military establishment.

According to Khalilzad, these actions demonstrate a consistent strategy of deception by Pakistan over four decades, spanning from the early development of nuclear capabilities to the complexities of the war on terror in South Asia.