Fazl-ur-Rehman: Pakistan Following Old US Policy in Afghanistan

Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, leader of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), said at a gathering in Peshawar that Pakistan is following the United States’ old policy on Afghanistan.

He also criticized changes in Pakistan’s policy and the country’s alignment with the United States, saying Islamabad receives dollars in return for fighting terrorism, yet terrorism in the region has not ended despite the passage of years.

He added that the United States and NATO bombed Afghanistan during their 20-year presence in the country and that no one questioned them over those actions.

Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, leader of JUI-F, said: “For 20 years, America bombed Afghanistan, and NATO also bombed Afghanistan for 20 years. No one asked why this oppression was taking place. They said, ‘We have come to ensure security and are fighting terrorists.’ But you are bombing a country. Pakistan could not remain in that position either; it completely changed its policy, made a political U-turn, became an ally of America, and we are still its ally. We receive dollars and money in return for the war on terror. So, has terrorism ended? If you look across the entire region, is there security anywhere? I am not only talking about insecurity. Insecurity has increased to such an extent that the government’s authority is eroding. The police chain of command has broken down.”

Earlier, Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, the Islamic Emirate’s ambassador to Pakistan, described disagreements between neighboring countries as natural and stressed that differences should be resolved through dialogue, mutual respect and political wisdom.

He said the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan does not pursue a policy of confrontation and will not allow Afghan territory to be used against the security and stability of any other country.

Sayed Enayatullah Adel, a political analyst, said: “Mistrust has been created in the region, particularly between these two countries and nations. It has caused significant harm to people living on both sides of the imaginary line; traders, migrants and ordinary people have suffered.”

Idris Mohammadi Zazai, another political analyst, said: “Pakistan’s friendship and cooperation with America is not something from these past five years. Since around 2021, Pakistan has clearly and on paper signed a commitment to cooperate with America and has said that it is with America and works in America’s interest. In particular, wherever in Afghanistan America wants to carry out operations, Pakistan facilitates it and launches operations for America.”

Most recently, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, a Pakistani opposition leader, called on the government to abandon what he described as its hostile approach toward Afghanistan and provide evidence to support its allegations regarding Afghanistan’s conduct.