Fazlur Rehman Questions Pakistan’s Afghanistan Policy Amid Rising Tensions

February 10, 2026
Bibi Amina Hakimi
TOLOnews’ Reporter
9 Feb 2026

He said it is strange that not even a single pomegranate can be imported from Afghanistan into Pakistan, yet claims are made that terrorists are coming from there.

While tensions between Kabul and Islamabad continue, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, has questioned his government’s policies toward Afghanistan in an unusually sharp tone.

Raising a sarcastic question, he said it is strange that not even a single pomegranate can be imported from Afghanistan into Pakistan, yet claims are made that terrorists are coming from there.

These remarks, delivered on Sunday at a gathering in Rawalpindi, were not limited to the current situation but also touched on the history of relations between the two countries.

He said that from the era of Zahir Shah to the communist governments, the Mujahideen, and the Islamic Emirate, various governments have come to power in Afghanistan; however, in his view, Pakistan has never been able to establish stable and tension-free relations with Kabul.

In another part of his speech, Maulana Fazlur Rehman added: “You say terrorists are coming from there into Pakistan. Brother, if they are coming, stop them. If they are coming, eliminate them. The strange thing is that an Afghan pomegranate cannot come, a melon cannot come, yet you say terrorists are coming.”

Fazlur Rehman also described insecurity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan as the result of flawed domestic policies and warned that the scope of this instability has now reached Islamabad as well.

He said: “Now the effects of this situation have reached Islamabad and Rawalpindi too. Even inside mosques, worshippers are being targeted. This means the government lacks authority. Making big statements is easy, and issuing fine declarations is easy. Some people create narratives as if we are the only victims in the world and the only wise ones as well.”

Analysts insist that despite the closure of border crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan, attributing Pakistan’s internal insecurity to Afghanistan is illogical. In their view, such claims are mostly made to cover up Pakistan’s internal security challenges.

Samiullah Ahmadzai, a political analyst, said: “Despite the fact that Pakistan has security posts along the so-called Durand Line and there is no movement, such claims are still made. These claims are mostly aimed at portraying Afghanistan as an insecure country.”

Another political analyst, Bilal Omar, added: “This actually reflects the weakness of Pakistan’s security institutions. Whenever a crisis emerges inside the country, the responsibility is placed on neighboring countries.”

This comes as Pakistan linked Friday’s deadly ISIS attack at a mosque in Islamabad to Afghanistan. In response, the Ministry of Defense of the Islamic Emirate immediately said that attributing the attack to Afghanistan has no logical basis and cannot conceal Pakistan’s security failures.

Fazlur Rehman Questions Pakistan’s Afghanistan Policy Amid Rising Tensions
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Russian Envoy Says No Alternative of Islamic Emirate, Urges Cooperation

February 10, 2026
Hayatullah Rahimi
Journalist & Digital Editor
Tolo News
9 Feb 2026
Albert P. Khorev said that Russia and other countries in the region are concerned about the security situation in Afghanistan.
The Russian Ambassador to Pakistan has expressed concern over recent tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, saying they are fueling instability in the region.

Albert P. Khorev said at a seminar organized by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute that there is currently no alternative to the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan, and that its officials should not be blamed; instead, their perspective should be respected and cooperation should take place.

He said that Russia and other countries in the region are concerned about the security situation in Afghanistan and stressed that regional countries should work together with the Afghan government to improve the situation.

He said: “I believe we can unite and we can further strengthen our efforts altogether in cooperation with Afghanistan government, find some ways and solutions how to more effectively fight terrorism threat.”

In another part of his remarks, Khorev criticized the West, particularly the United States, over sanctions imposed on Afghanistan, saying these sanctions have negatively affected the Islamic Emirate’s governance. He called on the West to lift the sanctions.

According to the Russian ambassador, expanding trade and economic relations with Afghanistan is currently one of Moscow’s priorities, and he believes Central Asian countries and China share the same priority.

The Russian diplomat also said that the closure of routes between Afghanistan and Pakistan is a major obstacle to regional trade.

Russian Envoy Says No Alternative of Islamic Emirate, Urges Cooperation
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Over 4 Million People of Afghanistan Will Need Shelter in 2026, UN Warns

February 10, 2026

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

The UN warns that 4.2 million people of Afghanistan will need shelter in 2026, amid natural disasters and increasing returnee pressures.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Sunday, Febraury 8 that 4.2 million people of Afghanistan will require shelter in 2026.

Humanitarian agencies have prioritized support for 881,000 people, requiring $160.3 million to provide emergency shelters, non-food items, winter aid, and repair damaged homes.

All 34 provinces will receive assistance, with high-priority areas including drought-hit regions, disaster-affected districts, and communities hosting returnees from Pakistan and Iran.

In 2025, 15,000 people were affected by floods, with 90 percent still living in tents or damaged homes due to lack of funding.

Over 24 percent of returnees identify shelter as their main need, highlighting a persistent housing crisis across Afghanistan.

Despite reductions in informal settlements in recent years, around 390,000 families continue to live in nearly 900 temporary sites nationwide.

Recurring natural disasters; including earthquakes, floods, and landslides continue to increase vulnerability and strain humanitarian resources throughout Afghanistan.

OCHA stresses protection for vulnerable groups, especially women, children, and people with disabilities, while negotiating with the Taliban to maintain humanitarian access.

Over 4 Million People of Afghanistan Will Need Shelter in 2026, UN Warns
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Pakistan to Deport Nearly 20,000 Afghan Refugees Awaiting U.S. Resettlement

February 10, 2026
Khaama Press

Pakistan plans to return nearly 20,000 Afghan refugees awaiting relocation to the United States, sharing their information with authorities for immediate deportation.

According to The Nation newspaper, Pakistan has decided to deport thousands of Afghan refugees who have been waiting for resettlement in the U.S.

The federal government will notify senior provincial authorities and police across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad to facilitate the returns.

Most of these refugees fled Afghanistan after the previous government fell and have been waiting more than four years for transfer to third countries.

In recent months, Pakistan has already returned some Afghan refugees who were on U.S. resettlement lists, citing doubts about Washington’s commitment to the program.

The U.S. paused Afghan refugee admissions after Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, shot two U.S. National Guard soldiers near the White House in December.

Following the shooting, President Donald Trump suspended visa issuance for Afghan passport holders indefinitely and ordered a review of existing Afghan immigration cases.

The decision underscores growing frustration in Pakistan over long-term refugee stays and the uncertainty surrounding Afghan resettlement to the United States.

Pakistan to Deport Nearly 20,000 Afghan Refugees Awaiting U.S. Resettlement
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New Penal Code Introduces Prison Terms for Drug Use and Trafficking in Afghanistan

February 10, 2026
Khaama Press

New penalties for drug use and trafficking have been introduced under a new penal code, imposing prison terms as drug consumption in Afghanistan shifts toward synthetic substances.

Under the Taliban’s new penal code, individuals using narcotic substances can face up to six months in prison depending on their condition.

Drug sellers face tougher punishment, with prison sentences ranging from one to seven years, while poppy and cannabis cultivation also carries jail terms.

The code lists substances including heroin, opium, hashish, alcohol, tramadol, and other narcotics, with punishments increasing based on quantities seized.

The regulations also remove appeal rights in narcotics-related cases, making lower court rulings final in many instances.

A recent UN report shows drug consumption patterns in Afghanistan are shifting from traditional narcotics toward synthetic drugs and misuse of pharmaceutical medicines.

Despite Taliban announcements banning narcotics production and use, international reports suggest drug consumption and production challenges remain widespread across the country.

New Penal Code Introduces Prison Terms for Drug Use and Trafficking in Afghanistan
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Afghanistan Halts Medicine Imports from Pakistan

February 10, 2026

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

Finance authorities announced medicine imports from Pakistan have been halted nationwide, urging traders to secure alternative supply routes to maintain domestic availability.

A spokesperson for the Finance Ministry said the ban on Pakistani medicines has been enforced across all customs points, with officials confirming immediate nationwide implementation.

Authorities also stated that medicine smuggling is under strict monitoring, warning that violators will face legal action under customs regulations to prevent illegal drug supplies entering markets.

The ministry urged pharmaceutical traders to quickly find alternative import routes to avoid potential shortages and ensure continuous medicine availability in hospitals and private pharmacies nationwide.

Officials added that facilities and procedures for importing medicines from other countries will be eased to maintain steady supply chains and prevent disruptions in healthcare services.

Authorities earlier announced agreements to import medicines from Uzbekistan and India, aiming to reduce reliance on limited trade routes and diversify pharmaceutical supply sources.

Following trade tensions and partial disruptions in commerce between Afghanistan and Pakistan, concerns have grown over supplies of essential goods, especially medicines required by hospitals and patients.

Analysts say the success of the decision will depend on how quickly alternative supply channels become operational to prevent shortages and stabilize medicine prices nationwide.

Afghanistan Halts Medicine Imports from Pakistan
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Pakistan says Afghanistan has created conditions ‘similar to or worse than’ pre-9/11 attacks

February 10, 2026

By MUNIR AHMED

Associated Press

February 9, 2026
Pakistan’s president warns that the Taliban’s government in Afghanistan has created conditions “similar to or worse than” those before the 9/11 attacks in 2001
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s president has warned that the Taliban’s government in Afghanistan has created conditions “similar to or worse than” those before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, a sign of rising tensions with Kabul after last week’s mosque attack in Islamabad, which analysts said Monday highlights militants’ reach to the capital.

Asif Ali Zardari made the remarks while thanking the international community for condemning Friday’s suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque that killed 31 worshippers and wounded 169. Without directly blaming India, Zardari also said Pakistan’s eastern neighbor was “assisting the Taliban regime and threatening not only Pakistan but regional and global peace.”

In a statement issued Sunday, Zardari said Pakistan “takes strong exception to the situation in Afghanistan where the Taliban regime has created conditions similar to or worse than pre-9/11, when terror organizations posed threats to global peace.” He added that Pakistan had long maintained terrorism cannot be confronted by any single country in isolation.

The unusually strong comments were likely to irk Kabul and New Delhi, both of which have condemned the suicide attack claimed by the Islamic State group and have denied any involvement.

The previous Afghan Taliban government, which ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, had been blamed for sheltering the al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden who was behind the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks that killed more than 3,000 people in the United States. The Afghan Taliban also allowed al-Qaida to operate training camps within Afghanistan, despite international warnings. However, bin Laden was killed during a U.S. commando operation in Pakistan in May 2011.

Last week, Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry and New Delhi, in separate statements, rejected the Pakistani allegations, saying Islamabad had irresponsibly linked them to the attack.

Pakistan frequently accuses the Afghan Taliban, who returned to power in August 2021 in Afghanistan, of backing militants including the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Both deny the accusations.

There was no immediate response from India or Afghanistan to Zardari’s latest allegations, which came after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the bomber involved in the attack was a Pakistani and trained by the IS group in Afghanistan.

Naqvi said security forces had arrested four suspects, including an Afghan national accused of links to the militant group and of helping mastermind the attack. The detainees included the bomber’s mother and brother-in-law, according to officials who said investigations into the attack were still ongoing.

Pakistan has not shared full details about the involvement of the bomber’s family, however.

On Monday, Naqvi received telephone calls from his Italian counterpart Matteo Piantedosi and European Commissioner Magnus Brunner, who condemned the mosque attack. According to a government statement, Naqvi maintained that “Pakistan is a shield for the world against terrorism and emphasized that strong global-level measures are needed today to protect the world from terrorism”.

Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s former special representative for Afghanistan, said Zardari’s warning was “unambiguous: terrorism thrives where it is tolerated, facilitated, or used as a proxy.” He wrote on X that “allowing terrorist groups to operate from Afghan soil and India’s use of proxies to destabilize Pakistan is a dangerous path with grave regional and global consequences.” Durrani added, “Peace demands responsibility, not denial.”

Another Islamabad-based analyst, Abdullah Khan, said the preliminary findings into the mosque bombing suggest the attack may reflect a pattern seen in some IS attacks involving close family networks. He said the IS affiliates have at times recruited entire families, pointing to past attacks in Pakistan and Indonesia.

Although Islamabad has seen fewer attacks than some other regions, Pakistan has experienced a recent rise in militant violence, much of it attributed to Baloch separatist groups and the TTP, which is separate from but allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban.

The Islamic State’s regional affiliate, a major Taliban rival, has carried out attacks across Afghanistan.

Pakistan says Afghanistan has created conditions ‘similar to or worse than’ pre-9/11 attacks
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Baradar: Afghanistan ‘Not Sweet Morsel for Enemies’

February 8, 2026
TOLOnews
TV Network
8 Feb 2026

The senior official of the Islamic Emirate also assured the security and inviolability of Afghanistan’s territory in another part of his remarks.

The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, speaking at the graduation ceremony of the 17th round of the National Defense University “Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah” in Kabul, emphasized positive engagement with all countries.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar added that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, within the framework of an economy-oriented policy, believes in regional and global partnerships.

He said: “We are committed to appropriate engagement with all countries within the framework of our principles. To ensure long-term political and economic interests, it is necessary for countries to respect one another’s values and sensitive boundaries.”

The senior official of the Islamic Emirate also assured the security and inviolability of Afghanistan’s territory in another part of his remarks.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar stressed that Afghanistan harbors no ill will toward other countries and expects the same from others.

The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs added: “Afghanistan neither wants to harm anyone nor will it accept being harmed by anyone; however, if someone harbors malicious intentions, it will respond without delay. History bears witness that this country is not a sweet morsel but a Zaqqum tree, one that has made the throats of ancient empires bitter, and which newborn children can never digest.”

Several other senior officials of the Islamic Emirate, including the Minister of Higher Education and the Minister of Borders, also emphasized the preservation of the current system in the country.

Without naming any specific country, Noorullah Noori, Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, said: “If someone wants a military base, they give a military base; if they want an army, they give an army. This is a sign of servitude. Praise be to God, an Islamic system is established in Afghanistan, and Afghanistan is independent in its policies.”

Strengthening unity, implementing Islamic Sharia, and safeguarding the current system were among other issues emphasized by senior officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan at the event.

Baradar: Afghanistan ‘Not Sweet Morsel for Enemies’
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UNAMA Reports Killings, Arrests, Public Punishments in Afghanistan

February 8, 2026
Khaama Press

A new UNAMA quarterly report covering October to December 2025 highlights ongoing human rights concerns across Afghanistan, including killings, detentions and civilian protection issues.

UNAMA reports killings, arbitrary arrests, media restrictions and public punishments in Afghanistan during late 2025, raising concerns over human rights conditions nationwide.

UNAMA’s quarterly report says 14 former Afghan security personnel were killed between October and December 2025, alongside 28 arbitrary detentions and seven cases of torture or mistreatment.

The report notes that several victims were former officials forcibly returned from neighboring countries, some later facing extrajudicial killings or unlawful detention after returning home.

Media restrictions also expanded, with bans on broadcasting images of living beings imposed or tightened in several provinces, affecting both state and private television operations.

UNAMA further recorded growing arrests and threats against social media users, while internet disruptions and online restrictions negatively affected businesses, including women-led enterprises.

Public punishments also continued, with 287 people, including women and minors, flogged in public, while two individuals convicted of murder were executed before crowds.

UNAMA has documented civilian harm and rights concerns in Afghanistan for more than a decade, tracking abuses affecting civilians and vulnerable groups nationwide.

Human rights organizations say economic hardship, displacement, and shrinking civic space continue to worsen conditions, leaving many communities increasingly exposed to insecurity and rights violations.

UNAMA urged respect for human rights and accountability measures, warning that continued abuses risk deepening instability and further isolating Afghanistan internationally.

UNAMA Reports Killings, Arrests, Public Punishments in Afghanistan
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613 civilians killed and wounded in Pakistan’s attacks on Afghanistan

February 8, 2026

Sohrab Sarwari

Pajhwok News
8 Feb 2026

KABUL (Pajhwok): The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has announced that during the past Gregorian year, 613 Afghan civilians were killed or wounded as a result of attacks by the Pakistani army.

In a report released today (Sunday), UNAMA stated that in the past Gregorian year, 613 Afghan civilians were killed or injured due to attacks by the Pakistani army. This is the highest number of Afghan civilian casualties caused by Pakistan’s attacks since 2011.

The organization specified that in the last three months of 2025, a total of 70 civilians were killed and 478 others were wounded, and a large portion of these casualties resulted from Pakistan’s artillery, rocket, and air strikes.

UNAMA’s report mentions civilian casualties in the provinces of Paktia, Kunar, Helmand, Kandahar, Khost, Paktika, and Kabul.

The mission has called on all parties to respect international human rights law and to protect the lives of civilians.

Meanwhile, Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, said: “Unfortunately, a large number of our civilian citizens have been martyred or wounded in such attacks. Over the past year, Pakistani forces have repeatedly and sporadically targeted residential areas along the so-called Durand Line.”

He added that among the victims were women, children, and even athletes.

According to reports, on the 6th of Mizan this year, as a result of an attack by Pakistan’s military regime, three cricket players named Kabir, Sibghatullah, and Haroon were killed, and seven others were wounded in Argon district of Paktika province.

Fitrat said: “After each of these incidents, media reports were published, and the section of the mentioned report related to civilian casualties largely corresponds with the existing realities. With deep regret, we confirm that dozens of innocent civilians, most of whom were women and children, were targeted by the Pakistani army.”

613 civilians killed and wounded in Pakistan’s attacks on Afghanistan
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