Fazlur Rehman Urges Dialogue, Not Force, in Pakistan’s Afghanistan Policy

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), criticized Islamabad’s policies toward Afghanistan, stressing that differences should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

Speaking at a gathering in Punjab, Fazlur Rehman said not all disputes with Afghanistan can be settled through the use of force, urging the Pakistani government to pursue dialogue and political engagement.

He said: “If you have complaints against Afghanistan, I, too, can have complaints about Afghanistan. But some issues cannot be resolved through force; they must be settled through diplomacy and political processes.”

Fazlur Rehman also criticized Pakistan’s domestic situation, saying the country is facing serious economic, security, and political challenges and that the government should focus on addressing internal crises rather than escalating external tensions.

Amir Mohammad Gran, Afghanistan’s former diplomat to Pakistan, Tolt: “In Pakistan, many civil society activists, political figures, and religious leaders, including Maulana Fazlur Rehman, have criticized the country’s policies, particularly Pakistan’s attacks on Afghanistan.”

The remarks come as humanitarian organizations have also warned about the consequences of escalating tensions between the two countries.

Jacopo Caridi, country director of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Afghanistan, said fighting along the eastern Afghanistan-Pakistan border has intensified again over the past three weeks.

Caridi said all parties to the conflict must comply with international humanitarian law and protect civilians during hostilities.

In recent months, rising tensions, cross-border attacks, and the migrant return crisis have created new challenges for relations between Kabul and Islamabad.