Former US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad’s resignation on Monday drew sharp reactions from both Afghan politicians and citizens.
In 2018 he became the US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation and led the US team in negotiations with the Taliban.
He signed a peace deal with the Taliban after lengthy talks in 2020, in an agreement based on US forces leaving Afghanistan.
Khalilzad stepped down on Monday and said he was “saddened” that Afghans failed to end the 40 years of war using the peace opportunity.
A number of Afghan politicians and citizens called Khalilzad’s mission a “failure.”
Former intelligence chief Rahmatullah Nabil tweeted: “Finally, this con man was expelled from the scene after dragging Afghanistan into an irreversible catastrophe!”
Former Afghan foreign minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta said Khalilzad played a destructive role in Afghanistan. “Khalilzad completed his destructive role in a shameful process. In this process, he had the support of some naive politicians and chauvinist circles,” he tweeted.
“Khalilzad took Afghanistan into a political and military crisis by signing the Doha agreement. Afghanistan’s state collapsed and now the people are suffering and all this is the result of Khalilzad’s work,” said Sayed Ishaq Gilani, the leader of the National Solidarity Movement of Afghanistan.
“Khalilzad worked for US interests, he damaged Afghanistan’s relations with other countries and his mission failed in Afghanistan,” said Shuja Hassan Mohsini, a university lecturer.
The Islamic Emirate also said Khalilzad did not do anything beneficial for the people of Afghanistan.
“Khalilzad came to Afghanistan to advance US orders and did not do anything beneficial for the people of Afghanistan,” said Anaamullah Samangani, a spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.
A number of Kabul residents also criticized Khalilzad for being involved in the Afghan crisis.
“Khalilzad has betrayed the people of Afghanistan. He took Afghanistan into the crisis,” said Naqib, a Kabul resident.
“Khalilzad’s mission was a failure. For the people of Afghanistan, he is evil and the people of Afghanistan are experiencing the current bad situation which resulted from .Khalilzad’s activities,” said Mohammad Naqib, a Kabul resident
