Afghan PM assures No use of soil against Pakistan as Fazal visits

Afghan PM assures No use of soil against Pakistan as Fazal visits

On Monday, Afghanistan’s Prime Minister Mullah Hasan Akhund reassured Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), that Kabul had no intention of causing harm to Pakistan or any other country. These remarks were made during a meeting with an 11-member delegation, led by Fazl, which visited Kabul at the invitation of the Afghan interim government. This marks the first visit by JUI-F to Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.

A statement from the Afghan government spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, quoted Mullah Hasan stating that the “Islamic Emirate will not permit any threat to be posed to any country.” The Afghan PM emphasized the crucial role of religious scholars in resolving issues and dispelling misunderstandings between Islamabad and Kabul.

Mullah Hasan also called for a cessation of what he described as Pakistan authorities’ “brutal” policy towards Afghan refugees, expressing that such actions do not solve problems but breed mistrust. Meanwhile, Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, present at the meeting, addressed the challenges faced by Afghan traders and issues arising in transit trade and exports due to Pakistani officials. Muttaqi emphasized that trade and economic matters should not be sacrificed for political purposes.

In a separate statement from the JUI-F media cell, Fazl stressed the need for cooperation between the two countries in politics, economy, trade, and mutual development. He condemned the deportation of Afghan nationals by Pakistan, considering it a source of problems between the two nations.

Deportation caused serious tensions 

Pakistan’s decision in October to deport all undocumented Afghans, with a crackdown initiated after a voluntary departure deadline on October 31, has strained relations. Tens of thousands of Afghans left Pakistan or were compelled to do so, with Pakistan justifying the move as necessary to address illegal residency. The underlying issue in the deteriorating ties between the two countries revolves around the Afghan Taliban’s inaction against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates.

More to read: Pakistan Rejects Designation as a Country of Particular Concern for Religious Freedom

While the statements from both JUI-F and the Taliban government did not explicitly mention the TTP, the interim Afghan prime minister affirmed that his country had no intention of undermining Pakistan or any other nation. However, Pakistan remains skeptical and insists on ‘verifiable’ action against the TTP.