Maulana Fazl confirms meeting Afghan Taliban

ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman confirmed on Friday that he had a meeting with Afghan Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhunzada and other top leaders.

The JUI-F chief stated that he discussed a wide range of issues with the Taliban’s supreme leader. The two leaders delved into various challenges affecting both countries. “We also explored solutions to the problems facing the two countries through mutual cooperation,” he added.

Maulana Fazl is the first Pakistani politician to meet the Afghan Taliban leadership in a personal capacity. His visit to Kabul on January 7, accompanied by an eleven-member entourage during the six-day tour, included meetings with several prominent Taliban leaders, such as Afghan Prime Minister Mullah Hassan Akhund, Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid, and Afghan Refugee Minister Khalil-ur-Rehman Haqqani.

The JUI-F chief’s visit occurred amid strained relations between the two countries, aggravated by Pakistan’s deportation of Afghan refugees. The increased terrorist attacks in Pakistan by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), primarily based in Afghanistan, further strained the neighboring nations’ ties.

In an interview with Afghan National Radio and Television, scheduled for Saturday airing, Fazl confirmed his meeting with the Taliban chief, describing his six-day trip to Afghanistan as “highly successful.” Regarding his earlier remarks about traveling to Kandahar to meet Akhunzada, Fazl expressed gratitude for the positive response, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of their talks and the Taliban’s endorsement of their stance.

The JUI-F media cell, in a statement on the X social media platform today, disclosed Fazl’s additional meetings with Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar, Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, and Refugee Minister Khalil ur Rehman Haqqani.

جمعیت علماء اسلام کے سربراہ مولانا فضل الرحمان کا دورہ افغانستان

مولانا فضل الرحمان کی امارت اسلامی افغانستان کے وزیرداخلہ خلیفہ سراج الدین حقانی سے ملاقات

ملاقات میں وزیر مہاجرین حاجی خلیل الرحمان سمیت دیگر عہدیداران موجود

وزیرداخلہ خلیفہ سراج الدین نے مولانا فضل الرحمان… pic.twitter.com/pKjuOnAop7

— Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Pakistan (@juipakofficial) January 12, 2024

Separately, in a statement on social media platform X today, the JUI-F media cell said Fazl held meeting meetings with Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar, Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani and Refugee Minister Khalil ur Rehman Haqqani.