Fazl-ur-Rehman: Pakistan Supported Taliban to Counter Rabbani’s Government

Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, leader of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party, has stated that Pakistani officials in the past supported the Taliban against Burhanuddin Rabbani’s government to establish an allied administration in Afghanistan. He added that relations between Pakistani authorities and the Taliban administration have now become strained, with the Taliban reportedly moving closer to India.

Fazl-ur-Rehman, a prominent religious and political figure in Pakistan, criticized Islamabad’s earlier approach towards Afghanistan. According to him, Pakistani policymakers at that time wanted a government installed in Kabul that would safeguard Pakistan’s interests, which is why they supported the Taliban.

He also referred to developments following the September 11 attacks, stating that while Pakistan was allied with the United States in the Afghanistan war, it simultaneously supported insurgent groups. He claimed this dual approach strengthened armed opponents of the former Afghan government and posed serious challenges to that regime.

These remarks come amid fluctuating relations between Islamabad and the Taliban administration in recent months. Some regional political analysts believe that regional rivalries, especially India’s role in Afghan affairs, are central to these tensions.