Pakistan cannot solve its problems with Afghanistan through threats: Fazlur Rehman

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party, says that Islamabad cannot resolve its security issues with Afghanistan through threats.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the veteran politician stated that if Pakistan is unwilling to compromise on its own sovereignty, it must also respect Afghanistan’s national sovereignty.

He added, “The two brotherly Islamic countries should build good relations based on the principle of equality.”

Referring to the recent visit of the Islamic Emirate’s Foreign Minister to India, Fazlur Rehman said Pakistan should review its policy toward Afghanistan to avoid creating a major problem.

In a separate gathering, he criticized Pakistan’s military strategy, saying that the army’s main problem is that it both fights and negotiates at the same time.

He said, “One who fights cannot negotiate, and one who negotiates cannot fight. Leave this matter to us — we succeeded in the past, and we will succeed again.”

Pakistan, which claims that Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has sanctuaries inside Afghanistan, carried out airstrikes in Kabul and Paktika provinces about three weeks ago, leading to deadly clashes between the two sides.

The Islamic Emirate has denied the presence of TTP sanctuaries in Afghanistan.