Ambassador Masood Khan urges Pakistan, Afghanistan to step back from brink, resume dialogue

Muzaffarabad, (Parliament Times) : Sardar Masood Khan, Pakistan’s former Ambassador to the United States, China, and the United Nations, and former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, has warned that the recent collapse of mediation efforts between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul could plunge the region into a new cycle of instability and violence. In a statement following the failure of Turkey- and Qatar-sponsored talks, Ambassador Khan urged both sides to “step back from the brink” and cautioned that “war, once ignited, will consume not only our borders but the prospects for regional peace and economic recovery.”
Ambassador Khan revealed that during the Istanbul dialogue, the Afghan Taliban delegation appeared constrained by instructions from Kandahar and Kabul, which prevented any meaningful progress. “The spirit of Doha was lost in Istanbul,” he said, adding that extremist elements within the Taliban ranks had deliberately sabotaged reconciliation by rejecting written commitments and continuing to allow terrorist groups to operate from Afghan soil. “They have the capacity and the authority to act—but not the will,” he remarked. “Afghanistan’s territory is being used against Pakistan in violation of the Doha Agreement, and this cannot continue.”
Citing reports from the United Nations Sanctions Committee’s monitoring team, Ambassador Khan confirmed that terrorist outfits were using sophisticated American weapons left behind during the U.S. withdrawal and were operating openly in eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar, Khost, Nangarhar, and Paktika provinces. “Everyone knows where the training camps are—the Afghans, our intelligence, and the world’s intelligence agencies,” he said, emphasizing that these networks were supported and financed by India to destabilize Pakistan. “This is not an unannounced war; it is an active, ongoing conflict being waged through proxies and terrorism,” he added.
Ambassador Khan underscored that Pakistan’s patience was not infinite. “When our soldiers and civilians are targeted repeatedly, the response will be proportional and firm,” he stated. “The answer to war, unfortunately, is war—but we must do everything possible to prevent it.” He noted that both Pakistan and Afghanistan were Muslim nations bound by faith, history, and geography, and that their leaderships must demonstrate wisdom and restraint. “If this war begins, it will destroy both nations. We must act now—through dialogue, mediation, and faith in diplomacy—to avert catastrophe,” he said.
Discussing the broader geopolitical context, Ambassador Khan accused India of exploiting Afghan instability to open a “western front” against Pakistan after its military humiliation earlier in 2025. “India has weaponized Afghanistan’s soil for hybrid warfare,” he said. “Their intelligence networks have long operated under the guise of consulates, using Afghan factions as proxies to attack Pakistan. This collusion is dangerous and unsustainable.” He added that while India lacked direct borders with Afghanistan, its covert involvement was well-documented and increasingly recognized by international actors.
Ambassador Khan acknowledged the constructive roles played by Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and China in trying to mediate the conflict. He expressed hope that regional diplomacy could still de-escalate tensions before they reached a breaking point. “These nations understand the stakes,” he said. “President Trump’s recent statements also indicate that the United States recognizes the need to prevent another prolonged conflict in South Asia. We welcome any genuine initiative that restores stability and prevents further bloodshed.”
Turning to domestic developments, Ambassador Khan commented on the political reshuffling in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, describing it as a natural democratic process but cautioned that the region’s leadership must remain focused on governance and the Kashmir cause. “Elections and transitions are part of democracy,” he said, “but Azad Kashmir’s foremost mission remains the advocacy for the right to self – determination of, end to hostilities and draconian measures in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK) people of Jammu and Kashmir and the consolidation of unity and good governance within.”
In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Masood Khan emphasized that Pakistan’s strength lay in its unity, diplomacy, and moral clarity. “Pakistan seeks peace, not confrontation,” he declared. “But peace must rest on mutual respect and non-interference. The Afghan leadership must honour its promises under the Doha Agreement and ensure that its territory is not used for terrorism against Pakistan. Our message is firm: we want friendship, but we will defend our sovereignty with resolve and without hesitation.”