RASC News Agency: In the wake of mounting dissent over the Doha Agreement, a coalition of former Afghanistan’s security personnel and U.S. military veterans has launched a campaign calling for the prosecution of Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation. These groups are urging governments and international organizations to hold Khalilzad accountable for his alleged role in the downfall of Afghanistan’s republican government and the Taliban’s return to power. The campaign, which commenced on Monday, March 31, seeks to secure justice for the victims of the flawed peace process and to emphasize the need for accountability in high-stakes diplomatic negotiations. Critics of the Doha Agreement contend that the 2020 deal between the United States and the Taliban directly precipitated the collapse of Afghanistan’s republican government and the subsequent takeover by the Taliban. The agreement, which facilitated the withdrawal of American forces, has drawn sharp criticism from Afghanistani citizens and the global community alike.
One of the principal grievances surrounding the Doha Agreement is its failure to safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Afghanistani people, particularly women and former security forces, who have faced severe oppression under Taliban rule. Thousands of former security officers, government employees, and civilians have been subjected to escalating violence, arbitrary detentions, and enforced disappearances. Moreover, their families continue to live under the looming threat of Taliban reprisals, enduring a state of perpetual fear and instability. Advocates of Khalilzad’s prosecution argue that no individual or institution should be absolved of responsibility for decisions that have led to widespread suffering and humanitarian catastrophe. The campaign urges anti-Taliban factions to sign an online petition advocating for the victims’ rights and amplifying their demands for justice on an international scale.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the Afghanistani-American diplomat widely recognized as a central figure in the U.S.-Taliban negotiations, has long been the target of vehement criticism. Opponents argue that by endorsing the Doha Agreement, he effectively legitimized the Taliban and facilitated their resurgence. Conversely, Khalilzad and his supporters insist that the agreement represented the most pragmatic solution for ending Afghanistan’s prolonged conflict and ensuring an orderly U.S. withdrawal. As scrutiny over the Doha Agreement intensifies, campaigns like this strive to reevaluate its impact on Afghanistan, seeking to determine whether its provisions undermined justice and the fundamental rights of the Afghanistani people.
