Former US envoy calls the Islamic Emirate’s response an “encouraging development” amid rising India-Pakistan tensions
KABUL, Afghanistan – Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, described the Islamic Emirate’s condemnation of a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir as a positive step toward regional stability.
“In an encouraging development, the Taliban (IEA) have sided with the tourist victims in Kashmir and have denounced this terror attack,” Khalilzad stated on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.
The attack took place in the Pahalgam region of Kashmir on Tuesday, where 26 people were killed in a shooting targeting tourists. The incident has reignited tensions between India and Pakistan, with both nations responding with heightened diplomatic and security measures.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan condemned the attack, saying such acts of violence undermine peace, security, and stability in the region.
The rare public condemnation by the Islamic Emirate has drawn international attention, with observers calling it a shift toward a more diplomatically engaged stance on cross-border violence.
