The Foreign Office of Pakistan, has distanced itself from Jamiat Ulama-i-Islam-Fazl emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s visit to Afghanistan.
While distancing itself from the JUI-F emir’s visit to Afghanistan, the spokesperson for the Foreign Office, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, said that, “Fazl is not visiting Afghanistan as an emissary of the Government of Pakistan and he is there in his individual capacity.”
It is to be noted that, Maulana Fazlur had travelled to Kabul on Sunday leading a delegation of Deobandi clerics, some of whom enjoy considerable influence on Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers.
Although, this is the second time that Foreign Office distances itself from the visit, the Pakistani charge d’ affaires in Kabul, Obaid Nizamani, had accompanied him on the journey from Islamabad. He had, moreover, been briefed on the relations with Afghan at the Foreign office before embarking on the visit.
Maulana Fazlur received the official invitation for the trip from Taliban after he extended his wish to visit Afghanistan for holding talks on the issues that has been affecting the bilateral ties, especially that of the TTP.
During the visit, Maulana Fazlur, who had undertaken the trip in the middle of the hectic election campaign, held meeting with the Taliban leaders, including the Prime Minister of the Interim Afghan government and the supreme leaders, Haibatullah Akhnzada in Kandahar. It was Maulana Fazlur’s first trip to Afghanistan since Taliban’s assumption of control following the US withdrawal in 2021.
Maulana Fazl during the visit has assured Taliban leaders that the incoming government, which will take office after Feb 8 polls, will review the issue of talks with TTP. He had also sought Afghan Taliban administration’s help for preventing TTP attacks during elections.
While mentioning about the possibility of resumption of dialogue with the TTP, FO Spokesperson, said that, “Our stance has not yet changed. Pakistan is not interested in talks with the TTP. We have no dialogue taking place, nor do we intend to have talks with TTP. Our demands from Afghan authorities are still same, which is that the Afghan authorities should take strict actions against the terrorist elements in Afghanistan including TTP leadership.”
