Maulana Fazlur Rehman: Pakistan’s Hawkish Policies Towards Afghanistan Persist for 78 Years

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan, criticized the 78-year-old policies of the Pakistani government regarding Afghanistan, emphasizing that Islamabad, with its purely “security-oriented and aggressive” approach, has failed to establish friendly relations with Kabul. He called for a serious review of these policies and a replacement of military means with diplomatic tools.

Call for a Shift from “War” to “Dialogue and Coexistence”

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the influential head of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan, in critical remarks, questioned the Pakistani government’s policies towards Afghanistan and stated that Islamabad has not been able to establish genuinely friendly and tension-free relations with Kabul over the past 78 years.

According to “Dawn News”, Fazlur Rehman, referring to the prevailing security-oriented approach in Pakistan’s regional policy, said:
“You only recognize war; this issue will not be solved by you.”

Peace Not Through War, Nor Within the Country

The leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam emphasized the need to avoid conflict, noting that “war is not a solution between Afghanistan and Pakistan nor does it have a place within Pakistan’s borders.” He called for no war to occur between the two countries, and there should be no space left for armed conflict within Pakistan.

Fazlur Rehman continued that if the goal is to establish peace and stability in the region, then without a serious review of the past policies and approaches, which were based on confrontation, mistrust, and a purely security perspective, this goal will not be achievable.

Time to Change Perspective from “Conflict” to “Diplomacy”

The leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam hinted at the long history of tensions and interventions in Afghanistan’s affairs, stressing that the time has come for Islamabad to shift its perspective from “war and conflict” to “dialogue and coexistence” and to resort to diplomacy, trust-building, and genuine cooperation with Afghanistan instead of using hard tools.

His blunt criticism of official policy may reflect the dissatisfaction of some influential religious and political movements in Pakistan regarding the continuation of a security approach towards Afghanistan. This party has traditionally played an important role in developments related to Afghanistan and religious schools.