US Afghanistan War Commission Seeks Pakistan’s Perspective on 20-Year Conflict
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: The US Afghanistan War Commission has sought Pakistan’s perspective as part of its comprehensive examination of Washington’s two-decade involvement in Afghanistan, bringing Islamabad’s security and regional experience into the commission’s review.
A delegation led by commission co-chairs Shamila N. Chaudhary and Dr Colin F. Jackson met Chief of Defence Forces and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Monday. According to Pakistan’s military, discussions covered Pakistan’s support during the conflict, the regional security environment and developments in Afghanistan.
Munir presented Pakistan’s perspective on the security dynamics that shaped the conflict and highlighted challenges faced by the country during the prolonged US engagement in neighbouring Afghanistan. He stressed the importance of incorporating both the wider regional perspective and Pakistan’s experience when assessing the strategic, diplomatic and operational dimensions of the war.
The visiting US delegation, according to the Pakistani military statement, acknowledged Pakistan’s longstanding role and sacrifices during the Afghanistan conflict and its contribution to regional peace and stability.
The Afghanistan War Commission is an independent, bipartisan body established by the US Congress in 2021. Its mandate covers key strategic, diplomatic and operational decisions connected with US involvement in Afghanistan from June 2001 through August 2021. The commission says it is examining areas including military operations, counterterrorism, intelligence assessments, development, security-force assistance, policy and diplomacy.
Pakistan became a major US partner after the September 11, 2001 attacks, providing logistical access and intelligence cooperation during US-led operations. At the same time, relations between Islamabad and Washington faced repeated tensions over counterterrorism strategy, alleged militant sanctuaries and differing approaches towards Afghanistan.
The commission’s engagement with Pakistan therefore provides Islamabad with an opportunity to place its account of the conflict and its regional consequences before the US body conducting the historical review.
The commission’s work is intended to identify lessons from the war and develop recommendations that could inform future decisions by Congress and US policymakers.
