Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US representative for Afghanistan, responded to the recent remarks of the Pakistani Defense Minister about the country’s support for terrorism, saying that Islamabad continues to support extremist and terrorist groups.

He wrote on X on Saturday that there are credible reports that Baloch militants attacked an ISIS training center in Mastung district of Balochistan in mid-March, killing about 30 members of the group, including nationals of India, Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

Khalilzad added: “It is unlikely that the existence of such centers has remained hidden from the eyes of the ISI (Pakistan’s intelligence agency) if this country is truly serious about fighting terrorism.”

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif admitted to Sky News’ Yalda Hakim that Pakistani governments have supported terrorist groups for the past three decades. “We have been doing these dirty jobs for the US, the UK and the West for three decades,” he said. “It was a mistake and that’s why we are now being blamed for this.”

Khalilzad wrote on the social network X: “Is Pakistan no longer a haven for terrorist and extremist groups?” He emphasized that credible reports continue to indicate the presence of dangerous terrorist groups in Pakistan.

According to him, “Islamabad must take seriously the presence of ISIS and other terrorist groups, which pose a serious threat to Pakistan, the region and the international community.”

Khalilzad warned that using terrorism as a tool for tactical purposes is a disastrous policy that will ultimately end up harming those who use this phenomenon.

Khalilzad recently reported on the possible influence of ISIS among Afghan returnees from Pakistan.

Taliban officials have repeatedly stated that ISIS has sanctuaries on Pakistani soil, particularly in Balochistan province.