Taliban Administration Invites Fazlur Rehman to August 24 Ceremony
Taliban administration envoy to Islamabad, Sardar Ahmad Jan Shakib, has invited Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party, to attend an event marking the anniversary of the Taliban administration’s return to power, in a move made at the height of tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.
According to a statement from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan party, Shakib and Fazlur Rehman also discussed regional political developments and the security situation during the meeting. The statement did not provide further details on the main topics of their talks.
Fazlur Rehman is considered one of Pakistan’s best-known political and religious figures and has met with Taliban officials numerous times in recent years. In those meetings, he has discussed Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, border security and political developments in Afghanistan.
The invitation comes as relations between Kabul and Islamabad have sharply deteriorated in recent months, with the two sides repeatedly accusing each other. Pakistan accuses the Taliban administration of providing safe haven to members of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, while the Taliban administration accuses Islamabad of violating Afghanistan’s sovereignty and carrying out attacks on its territory.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan is one of Pakistan’s influential religious parties, and Fazlur Rehman is regarded as one of its prominent figures. August 24, 2021, is the day the Taliban administration regained control of Afghanistan after the fall of Kabul.
