The ruling government in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan extended invitation to Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman to play the role of mediator between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Adding the details about the above mentioned, Chief Spokesman for the Afghan government, Zabihullah Mujahid said that, “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan had extended official invitation to the JUI-F leader to keep abreast of aspirations of the people of Afghanistan and the government towards Pakistan and its people.”
Mujahid added that, “And let the people of Pakistan know that we never want unrest in Pakistan, our relations soured or any step taken against Pakistan. We certainly don’t want this, and Maulana Fazlur Rehman can play this role very well.”
The statement from the Afghan Taliban comes two days after their envoy to Pakistan, Sardar Ahmad Jan Shakib, held meeting with the JUI-F chief in Islamabad too formally extend invitation for mediation.
It is to be noted that, the ties between the Taliban government and Pakistan continues to decline after the recent terrorist attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa areas.
Pakistan has so-far levelled allegations against the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan for inciting the violence in the areas. And the TTP is likely having its base roots in Afghanistan, which is considered as the key reason behind deteriorating relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The Afghan Taliban, which earlier hosted the failed peace talks between Pakistan and the TTP, now say the militant groups are no longer based in Afghanistan. They have asked Islamabad to address its internal security challenges instead of blaming Kabul for them.
Notably, the statement from Mujahid came after reports made suggestion that the Afghan Taliban had rounded up a few dozen TTP fighters.
Whereas, the details about the arrest were not yet disclosed, the move of Kabul suggests that the Afghan Taliban that were long considered to be close to Pakistan were finally ready to contemplate action against Pakistani militants on their soil.
