Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) party, said Thursday that all previous governments in Afghanistan—from King Mohammad Zahir Shah to former President Ashraf Ghani—were historically aligned against Pakistan, with the sole exception of the Taliban.
Speaking at a public gathering, Rehman asserted, “From Zahir Shah to Ashraf Ghani, every government in Afghanistan has been pro-India except the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban),” using the formal term the Taliban apply to their rule.
He urged Pakistan’s political establishment to focus more on strengthening ties with the Taliban-led government, even ahead of broader regional issues. “Before addressing the Kashmir issue, we must first think about Afghanistan. Why has Pakistan not improved its diplomatic relations with the Taliban?” he asked.
Rehman, a polarizing figure in Pakistani politics known for his hard-line religious stance, visited Afghanistan in December 2023, where he held talks with senior Taliban officials. He later claimed to have met Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, a figure rarely seen in public and whose meetings are seldom confirmed outside Taliban circles.
His comments reflect growing divisions within Pakistan over how to approach the Taliban amid deepening regional insecurity, ongoing migration pressures, and strained border dynamics.
