Physical Address
Islamabad, Pakistan
A delegation from the United States Afghanistan War Commission met Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on September 28, 2026. The delegation was led by commission co-chairs Shamila N. Chaudhary and Dr Colin F. Jackson.
The meeting focused on the United States’ two-decade engagement in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s experience during the conflict. According to reports, the commission is reviewing America’s 20-year involvement in Afghanistan and is seeking perspectives from regional stakeholders.
Field Marshal Munir shared Pakistan’s perspective on the strategic, diplomatic and operational dimensions of the Afghan conflict. He also highlighted the security challenges Pakistan faced during the prolonged US engagement in Afghanistan and stressed the importance of including a regional perspective in the commission’s assessment.
The US delegation acknowledged Pakistan’s longstanding role and sacrifices during the Afghan conflict. It also appreciated Pakistan’s continued contribution to regional peace and stability.
The acknowledgement comes at a time when security conditions involving Pakistan and Afghanistan remain complicated. Recent cross-border violence and disagreements over militant activity have added new tensions between Islamabad and Kabul. Pakistan has accused militant groups operating from Afghan territory of carrying out attacks inside Pakistan, while Afghan authorities have rejected such accusations.
The commission’s engagement with Pakistan provides an opportunity to incorporate Islamabad’s experience into the broader assessment of the Afghan war. Pakistan has played a significant role in the conflict over the years, making its perspective relevant to any review of the United States’ long military and diplomatic involvement in Afghanistan.
The Rawalpindi meeting therefore highlighted both the historical dimension of Pakistan-US relations during the Afghan war and the continuing importance of regional security issues. The commission’s findings could contribute to a broader understanding of the decisions, challenges and consequences associated with the United States’ Afghanistan engagement.
