ISLAMABAD: The government distanced itself from the visit of a prominent Pakistani religious cleric to Afghanistan on Thursday, saying it was not interested in dialogue with a proscribed militant network launching cross-border attacks against its civilian population and security forces from the neighboring state.
The statement focusing on Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Kabul visit on the invitation of the interim Afghan government was issued by foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch during the weekly media briefing in Islamabad.
Rehman took a private delegation to Afghanistan on Sunday to hold talks with Taliban officials at a time when the ties between the two states are at their lowest ebb due to the rising number of militant attacks in Pakistan.
The Pakistani cleric advocated for strong bilateral relations between both countries against the backdrop of his country’s decision to deport large numbers of “illegal immigrants,” mostly Afghans, in the wake of a surge in deadly suicide bombings.
The government has urged the authorities in Kabul to prevent the militant network, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), from using the Afghan soil to launch attacks in its border areas and cities. It also suspect the involvement of unregistered Afghans in such violent activities.
Pakistan’s foreign office distanced itself on Thursday the government was not supporting the visit of a prominent religious leader of the country to Afghanistan while emphasizing it had no interest in opening yet another dialogue with a proscribed militant network in the neighboring state which is said to be responsible for carrying out attacks on civilians and security forces across the country.
“Maulana Fazlur Rehman has gone to Afghanistan in a private capacity,” Baloch told the media in response to a question. “The government is not supporting his visit in any way. Pakistan is not interested in dialogue with the TTP which has carried out several attacks in the country.”
She acknowledged the foreign office briefed Rehman about the situation in Afghanistan before his visit, adding it was a normal procedure.
“Our demands from Afghanistan have not changed,” she continued. “We want action against terrorist groups, including the TTP, in Afghanistan. We want the elimination of safe havens for terrorists in Afghanistan. And we want to prevent the use of Afghan territory for terrorism against Pakistan.”
According to a statement released by Rehman’s Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam (JUI-F) party a day earlier, he held meetings with top officials in Kabul during his visit to Afghanistan.
The statement also maintained Rehman was optimistic about the future trajectory of Pakistan’s bilateral relations with Afghanistan.
The Pakistani cleric enjoys close relations with the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan since his party has also been advocating for Islamic laws and values.
The JUI-F also wields considerable influence in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, both bordering Afghanistan.