Pakistan religious party chief meets Afghan deputy PM in Kabul on visit to discuss regional issues

Pakistani Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUIF) chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman meets the Afghan deputy prime minister, Maulana Abdul Kabeer, in Kabul during his visit to Afghanistan on January 7, 2024. (Photo courtesy: JUIF)

• The visit comes amid strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan following a surge in militant attacks in Pakistan’s western regions 
• Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman says he has taken the Pakistani government and the foreign office into confidence about his visit to Afghanistan 

ISLAMABAD: Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, the leader of a prominent Pakistani religious party, on Sunday met the Afghan deputy prime minister, Maulana Abdul Kabeer, in Kabul where he arrived to hold talks on the regional situation, his party said, amid strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained strained since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in August 2021. A surge in suicide blasts and militant attacks in Pakistan’s western provinces bordering Afghanistan have frustrated Islamabad, which has asked Kabul to rein in the Pakistani Taliban it says are using Afghan soil to launch attacks on Pakistan. The Taliban reject Pakistan’s accusations.
Relations between both countries soured further in November when Pakistan deported thousands of Afghan migrants, saying it was taking action against “illegal immigrants” in the country, and blamed Afghan nationals for the surge in suicide attacks in Pakistan. Afghanistan condemned the move and asked Pakistan not to deport Afghan refugees.
Rehman’s political party, the Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam (JUI), is known for its staunch advocacy of Islamic laws and values. The party wields considerable influence in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, while its leader enjoys close ties with the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan.
“Soon after arriving in Kabul, JUI chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman held meeting with Afghan interim government’s deputy prime minister Maulana Abdul Kabeer while Afghan Foreign Minister Maulvi Ameer Khan Muttaqi, Maulvi Abdul Lateef Mansoor and others were also present in the meeting, discussing regional security situation,” JUI Spokesman Aslam Ghauri told Arab News.
The JUI earlier said on X that Rehman was traveling with a “high-level” delegation, including party leaders Maulana Abdul Wasay, Maulana Salahuddin, Maulana Jamaluddin and Maulana Saleemuddin Shamzai.
Prior to that, Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed Rehman would visit Kabul for talks.
Last month, a top Afghan interior ministry official disclosed that his government had arrested around 40 Pakistani Taliban militants over the past year. The Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have carried out some of the deadliest attacks in Pakistan against both civilians and security forces over the past decade-and-a-half, seeking to impose their own brand of strict Islamic law.
“There is a possibility that this (TTP) issue will come in for discussion,” Rehman told reporters on Saturday evening. “We will use our relations for the well-being of both countries. And I have plans to meet him (Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Taliban).”
Rehman said he had wanted to visit Kabul because of the success achieved by the Taliban in their war against the US-led coalition forces after 20 years. He said it was binding on him to visit the country and congratulate the Taliban on their victory.
“I’m going in the capacity of the head of the JUI, but we have to keep both countries’ interests and reconciliation in mind,” he said. “Keeping in view these all, we have taken our rulers and our foreign office in confidence [about the visit].”
He said Pakistan’s foreign office had briefed him about Pakistan’s stance and demands regarding Afghanistan this week.
“We have relations with them (Afghan Taliban) and we have to exploit those ties for the well-being of both countries,” Rehman said. “We will put our government’s stance before them (Afghan Taliban).”
The Pakistani political leader said he wanted the visit to be “result-oriented,” adding that its outcome would depend on both countries’ intentions to pursue peace.
About the Taliban’s restrictions on girls’ education in the country, Rehman said every state tackled its affairs when it came to security, trade, economy, culture, and social reforms.
“Let them (Afghan Taliban) create an environment. No doubt, the Taliban have had a central role for years in Afghanistan and they better know how to go with the world,” he said.