CHINIOT: JUI Chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman emphasized that Afghanistan’s Taliban are aligned with Pakistan’s interests rather than India’s, and he urged the government to respect Afghanistan’s sovereignty and avoid unnecessary concessions.
Speaking at a conference in Chiniot, Maulana Fazl questioned why Pakistan appears to favor a pro-Pakistan stance towards Afghanistan while distancing itself from India. He also criticized the recent cancellations of Afghan ministerial visits, urging the authorities to think carefully before taking actions that could negatively impact relations with Afghanistan.
The JUI leader pointed out that the recent Gaza peace initiatives have limited Palestinian options, leaving them vulnerable while Israel continues its bombardments unchallenged. He questioned Pakistan’s efforts to seek a peace award for Donald Trump, suggesting it was misplaced.
Fazl also called on JUI workers to prepare for upcoming protests and marches. He underlined the close cultural and historical ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan, describing them as brother nations with shared bloodlines on both sides of the border.
He claimed that Pakistan’s relations with China have suffered due to the shutdown of CPEC projects, which he attributed to US pressure. He criticized both Imran Khan’s government and the current administration for repeating the same mistakes with CPEC. He pointed out that since General Musharraf’s era, the situation in Afghanistan has worsened, especially after Pakistan allowed US use of airports for operations in Afghanistan.
Maulana Fazl also dismissed the Punjab government’s monthly stipends, stating that the government should instead focus on transferring control of seminaries back to religious authorities.
