Zalmay Khalilzad

Zalmay Khalilzad, former Ambassador to Afghanistan and Iraq

Zalmay Khalilzad

Former ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad evaluates the concluded $2.3 trillion war in Afghanistan, which failed to democratize the region but successfully deterred Al-Qaeda, while noting that current U.S. engagement with the Taliban remains constrained by domestic politics and unfulfilled human rights commitments. The discussion further analyzes how the withdrawal from Afghanistan miscalculated Putin's aggression in Ukraine, a conflict that ironically strengthened NATO cohesion despite escalating risks of nuclear escalation. Finally, the briefing identifies China as a comprehensive strategic challenger whose technological and territorial ambitions, particularly regarding Taiwan, now constitute the primary contradiction for U.S. foreign policy.