KABUL: Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. special representative for Afghanistan, has said Afghanistan existed as a state centuries before Pakistan was established, responding to recent remarks by Pakistani military spokesman Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry.
Khalilzad rejected Chaudhry’s claim that Afghanistan is not a state but is instead governed by a non-state group, saying the assertion was incorrect under international law.
He also urged Pakistani officials to change what he described as their “threatening and failed” policy toward Afghanistan.
Khalilzad said Afghanistan and Pakistan need each other and should make serious efforts to improve bilateral relations.