Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has claimed that Pakistan’s military allowed Iranian military aircraft to hide inside Pakistani territory.
In a post on X, Khalilzad said the alleged action took place while Pakistan was simultaneously serving as a facilitator in negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
He described the situation as evidence of Islamabad’s “double policy.”
Khalilzad added that Pakistan has cooperated with the United States over the past four decades while at times also acting against Washington’s interests.
The former US official did not provide documents or additional evidence to support his claim.
Nevertheless, his remarks have drawn significant attention amid rising regional tensions and growing scrutiny of relations among Iran, Pakistan, and the United States.
Political analysts say Pakistan has historically attempted to maintain strategic balance among rival regional and global powers.
Experts note that Islamabad has often relied on parallel relationships with competing actors in order to preserve strategic flexibility and protect its national interests.
According to analysts, if Khalilzad’s claims prove accurate, they would suggest Pakistan is once again attempting to operate on multiple fronts simultaneously — maintaining diplomatic engagement with Washington while also avoiding direct confrontation with Tehran.
Experts warn that continued ambiguity regarding Pakistan’s regional role could further complicate geopolitical tensions and affect levels of trust between Islamabad and Washington.
Analysts also say the allegations highlight broader concerns in US policy circles about Pakistan’s long-standing strategy of balancing cooperation with major powers while preserving independent regional leverage.
