Pakistani Cleric Fazlur Rehman Slams Islamabad’s Failed Afghanistan Policy
Fazlur Rehman, the leader of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, on Sunday criticized his country’s official policy toward Afghanistan, calling it a “failure” during a gathering in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. He asserted that over the past 78 years, Pakistan has failed to establish friendly relations with its western neighbor.
Pointing to the continued distrust between the two nations, he said, “You only know war, and with such an approach, peace cannot be achieved.” His remarks were a direct critique of the policies pursued by Pakistan’s security and government institutions regarding Afghanistan.
Rehman further stated that there should be no armed conflict within Pakistan and emphasized that working toward regional peace must be a top priority. He called for a reassessment of Islamabad’s regional policies and warned of the dangers posed by the link between armed groups and instability between the two countries.
The cleric also urged the Taliban administration to take a more active role in improving conditions and reducing tensions. He stressed that his party does not support any militant activity within Pakistan.
Despite his critical stance, Fazlur Rehman is widely seen as a political and ideological ally of the Taliban and even visited Kabul after the group’s return to power in Afghanistan. His latest statements may signal internal disagreements within Islamabad’s pro-Taliban approach.
