Afghanistan Peace CampaignHe Stressed that the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan share longstanding historical ties and should not bear the cost of disputes between their governments.
Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami leader has expressed concern over the continued tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, stressing that dialogue must continue to resolve the disputes between the two sides.
In an interview with a Pakistani media outlet, Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman said talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan could proceed with the participation of the Pakistani government, religious scholars, and an international organization comprising Islamic scholars.
Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, leader of Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami, said: “Our foreign policy and overall approach have become weak, and those whom we once considered friends are no longer our friends. We need to reflect on the mistakes we made in the past. The issue of Afghanistan cannot be managed by saying we have reached a point of no return and that if they attack, we will attack in return. Dialogue and exchange of views must continue.”
Naeem ur Rehman also emphasized that the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan share longstanding historical ties and should not bear the cost of disputes between their governments.
The Pakistani politician stressed the need to resume talks between Kabul and Islamabad, saying the failure of previous negotiations should not bring dialogue between the two countries to an end.
He added: “What wrong have the people done that they should be set against one another? The government should seriously pursue the proposal to establish a joint trade zone instead of blaming each other and allowing the current difficult situation to deteriorate to an irreparable point.”
This is not the first time Pakistani political parties have called for resolving tensions with Afghanistan. Previously, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), the Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan party, and an opposition alliance led by Mahmood Khan Achakzai also urged an end to tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.
Mohammad Akram Arefi, a university lecturer, said: “Ordinary people and politicians in Pakistan do not support tensions with Afghanistan because such tensions harm both countries equally.”
In recent months, escalating tensions, cross-border attacks, and Pakistan’s forced deportation of Afghan migrants have further strained relations between Kabul and Islamabad, leaving the future of dialogue between the two sides uncertain.