ISLAMABAD: Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of a prominent Pakistani religious party, has met Afghanistan’s interim interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani and discussed with him internal and external stability of both countries, Rehman’s party said on Friday.
Rehman, who heads the Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) party, has been on a visit to Afghanistan since Jan. 7 to hold talks with Taliban officials at a time when ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan 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 attacks, including suicide bombings.
In his meeting with Haqqani, the JUI leader was apprised of the internal security situation of Afghanistan, his party said in a statement.
“The purpose of our visit is to bring internal and external stability in the two countries,” Rehman was quoted as telling the Afghan interior minister. “An increase in trade between the two countries will lead to peace and prosperity.”
The Afghan interior minister expressed his country’s desire to have cordial ties with Pakistan.
“[We] want to move forward through cooperation and talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan on border issues,” Haqqani was quoted as saying.
While the JUI leader, along with a delegation, held talks in Kabul, the Pakistani government distanced itself from the visit.
“Maulana Fazlur Rehman has gone to Afghanistan in a private capacity,” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, a spokesperson of the Pakistan foreign office, said at a weekly press briefing on Thursday. “The government is not supporting his visit in any way.”
Asked if Islamabad intended to hold talks with the Pakistani Taliban, she said Pakistan was not “interested in dialogue with the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) which has carried out several attacks in the country.”
The militant group, which is said to have sanctuaries in Afghanistan, is separate from but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban.
Over the last one year, Pakistan has repeatedly asked the Afghan Taliban to prevent the TTP from using their soil to carry out attacks against Pakistan. Kabul denies the use of its territory by any militant group.
Pakistani religious party leader discusses internal, external stability with Afghan interior minister
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Pakistani religious party leader discusses internal, external stability with Afghan interior minister
- Maulana Fazlur Rehman is on a visit to Afghanistan since Sunday where he has met top Taliban leaders
- Pakistan has chosen to distance itself from the visit, says Rehman undertook it in a ‘personal capacity’
Afghan interior minister welcomes Pakistani scholars for ‘positive’ remarks about Kabul
- Pakistani religious scholars on Dec. 23 called for easing tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, resumption of trade
- Sirajuddin Haqqani says Afghanistan is committed to regional peace, Afghans have “no intentions to threaten anyone”
PESHAWAR: Afghanistan’s Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani recently thanked Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and religious scholars from the country for expressing positive statements for Kabul despite tensions between the two countries.
A meeting of religious scholars in Pakistan on Dec. 23, attended by Jamiat Ulama-e-Pakistan political party head Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, called for easing tensions between the two states. The scholars also called for allowing resumption of trade and movement of people between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Pakistani news media outlets reported on Saturday that Dar, who is also Pakistan’s foreign minister, praised Haqqani’s earlier statement in which the Afghan minister stressed resolving tensions between Islamabad and Kabul through dialogue.
In a video statement on Sunday, Haqqani said Afghanistan is committed to peace and stability in the country and the region, adding that Afghans have “no intentions to threaten anyone.” He appreciated Rehman and religious scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani for speaking in a “positive” manner about Afghanistan in the Dec. 23 meeting.
“We are thankful and grateful for their approach and views,” Haqqani said.
“Similarly, we really appreciate the positive remarks by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who spoke in a positive way about Afghanistan.”
The Afghan minister’s statement comes in the backdrop of increased tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan amid a surge in militant attacks in the latter’s territory.
Pakistan blames Afghanistan’s government for facilitating attacks by the Pakistani Taliban or TTP group. Islamabad accuses Kabul of allowing TTP militants to take shelter in sanctuaries in Afghanistan from where they carry out attacks targeting Pakistan.
Kabul denies the charges and says it cannot be held responsible for security lapses and challenges in Pakistan.
The two countries engaged in fierce border clashes in October that led to the killings of dozens of soldiers and civilians on both sides. Pakistan and Afghanistan subsequently agreed to a temporary ceasefire and have held three rounds of peace talks that remained inconclusive.
Tensions persist as Pakistan has vowed to go after militants even in Afghanistan that threaten the lives of its citizens. Afghan officials have warned Pakistan of retaliation if it attacks Afghanistan.
