Jamaat-i-Islami emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Friday advocated for dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan, emphasizing that only meaningful discussions can help improve the strained relations between the two nations.
He also stressed that the Afghan interim government must ensure that its territory is not used for militant attacks against Pakistan.
“Both sides should always keep the door open for talks,” Mr. Rehman stated during a news conference at Markaz-i-Islami.
The JI chief remarked that the deteriorating relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan were a result of decisions made by a few leaders, not by the people, who have supported each other for nearly 45 years.
He further stated that Afghanistan must prevent its territory from being used for cross-border militant attacks.
Mr. Rehman noted that the current tension between the two countries is a sensitive issue and that meaningful dialogue could help find a resolution.
He reiterated that only through meaningful discussions could the issues between the two nations be addressed.
When asked about the Rs20 billion allocation for the proposed military operation Azm-i-Istihkam against militants, Mr. Rehman clarified his party’s stance on the matter.
The JI chief argued that military operations are not the solution to the problem of militancy.
Instead, he suggested that the government should invest in “productive initiatives.”
“You cannot maintain peace through military operations,” he asserted.
However, Mr. Rehman acknowledged that maintaining law and order is the government’s responsibility, and therefore, it should spend money wisely and be transparent about its usage.
He claimed that operations against militants were ongoing in the tribal regions, with reports of fighter jets being deployed.
The JI emir emphasized that the country cannot afford further divisions between the people and the armed forces.
He questioned how militants have continued to grow stronger and called for the identification of those within the government and national institutions who might be supporting them.
Mr. Rehman pointed out that the government and military had stated that Operation Azm-i-Istihkam is aimed at controlling law and order.
He suggested that if the situation in Bannu could be improved through dialogue between the military, government, opposition, and local communities, then all issues could be resolved through talks.
The JI emir expressed concern over a recent attack on police, questioning how the attackers had access to heavy weaponry. He said the attack exposed the inefficiency of the law enforcement agencies.
He called for a review of the institutions’ failures to fulfill their respective duties.
Mr. Rehman also mentioned that the Punjab government had provided relief in electricity bills to residents for two months from the exchequer and urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to do the same.
He announced that his party would hold a shutter down strike on August 28 with the support of traders.
