Demand Accountability and Transparency: No More Talks with Taliban and Haqqani Terrorists Through Zalmay Khalilzad

We, the veterans of the Global War on Terrorism, stand united in condemning the actions and engagement of Zalmay Khalilzad with the Taliban and Haqqani terrorist regime. For years, we have watched with growing concern as his actions and statements have consistently favored a group responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans and Afghans, the destruction of countless lives, and the systemic oppression of women and minorities in Afghanistan. Khalilzad’s role in the Doha talks and his ongoing support for the Taliban raises serious questions about his true intentions and the impact of his influence.

Khalilzad, a former U.S. diplomat, has been instrumental in negotiating with the Taliban and Haqqani terrorist regime, notorious for their brutal reign of terror in the 1990s and after their return to power in 2021. Despite overwhelming evidence of their human rights violations, including the torture and killings of Afghan Defense and Security Forces, the targeting of journalists, and the destruction of women's rights, Khalilzad has consistently downplayed these atrocities and portrayed the Taliban as a legitimate political force. His failure to acknowledge the continued violence and repression under Taliban rule is not only unacceptable but deeply harmful to Afghanistan’s long-term stability and to the sacrifices made by our service members.

The Facts:

Pro-Taliban Stance: Khalilzad’s public statements and actions during and after the Doha talks have raised serious concerns about his favoritism toward the Taliban and Haqqani network. He has repeatedly downplayed the Taliban’s role in violence and human rights abuses, framing them as “a part of Afghanistan’s political future.” This dangerously naïve stance has empowered the Taliban and undermined the efforts of Afghan women, the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), and the international community working to build a just and peaceful Afghanistan.

Failure to Condemn Taliban Violence: Since the Taliban’s resurgence in 2021, Khalilzad has not once strongly condemned their violence against Afghan civilians and security forces. In contrast, the Taliban has executed scores of Afghan soldiers, police officers, and intelligence personnel, while executing brutal crackdowns on women’s rights—restricting access to education, forcing women out of the workforce, and suppressing any form of dissent. Yet Khalilzad has remained eerily silent on these atrocities, choosing instead to focus on the Taliban’s "legitimacy" and the "need for dialogue."

Undermining Afghanistan’s Security Forces: Throughout the peace talks, Khalilzad seemed to prioritize a political settlement with the Taliban over the safety and integrity of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. The ANDSF, which had fought valiantly against the Taliban for two decades, was not adequately supported or represented during negotiations. As a result, Afghan soldiers and security personnel—left unsupported—became targets of Taliban forces, many of whom were killed or captured.

Betrayal of Afghan Women: The most appalling aspect of Khalilzad’s actions is his disregard for the lives and rights of Afghan women. Under Taliban rule, women have been systematically denied access to education, healthcare, and employment while facing brutal violence and punishment for simply existing outside the confines of Taliban-imposed laws. Khalilzad’s continued engagement with the Taliban, without a clear stance on women’s rights, has undermined the international community’s commitment to women’s empowerment and equality in Afghanistan.

Trump’s Promise to Hold Accountability: President Donald Trump committed to holding those involved in misleading negotiations, such as the Doha Agreement, accountable. The Taliban’s return to power has led to disastrous consequences for the Afghan people, including the brutal execution of soldiers, systemic abuse of women, and the collapse of the Afghan state. Khalilzad’s handling of the Doha talks, which failed to represent the interests of both Afghanistan’s government and the United States, should place him under intense scrutiny for misleading these critical negotiations. His actions warrant investigation, as they directly conflict with the best interests of both American service members and the Afghan people. The current administration must act on Trump’s promise, ensuring that Khalilzad is held accountable for his role in enabling the Taliban’s resurgence.

Why We Demand Change:

We, the veterans of the Global War on Terrorism, demand an immediate halt to any further diplomatic negotiations with the Taliban and Haqqani terrorist regime, including no direct diplomatic relations by any U.S. citizen with this regime. Khalilzad’s actions and public statements have shown a troubling pattern of prioritizing political negotiations with a violent and oppressive group over the well-being of the Afghan people—especially women, children, and those who have fought for freedom. His involvement in these talks has only served to legitimize the Taliban’s brutal rule and ignore the true costs of peace at any price.

Our Demands:

1. Immediate cessation of any further diplomatic negotiations with the Taliban and Haqqani terrorist regime, including no direct diplomatic relations by any U.S. citizen with this regime.
2. A thorough investigation into Khalilzad’s actions during the Doha negotiations and his connections to the Taliban.
3. A reaffirmation of U.S. commitment to Afghan women’s rights, human rights, and the protection of Afghan Defense and Security Forces.
   A renewed approach to Afghanistan’s future—one that prioritizes the voices and needs of the Afghan people, not the Taliban.
4. The current administration should fulfill President Trump’s commitment to prosecute those involved in misleading the Doha Agreement and hold Zalmay Khalilzad accountable for his role in facilitating the Taliban’s resurgence.

Sign this petition to demand change and protect the rights and dignity of the Afghanistan people.

 

With Regards,

Global War on Terrorism Veterans