Pakistan’s Council of Islamic Ideology has called on the Taliban to take action against what it described as “extremism,” urging them to implement a declaration endorsed by more than 1,000 Afghan religious scholars living abroad, according to Pakistani media reports.
Taher Mahmood Ashrafi, chairman of the Pakistani religious council, said it was now the responsibility of Afghanistan’s interim government to ensure the implementation of the declaration issued by Afghan clerics.
“This is a positive step in the right direction,” Ashrafi was quoted as saying, adding that there was no difference between the positions of religious scholars in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He said the declaration addressed two key issues: rejecting violations of Afghanistan’s territory and opposing what he described as terrorism in Pakistan. “Afghanistan’s soil should not be used against any other country, and neither should Pakistan’s soil be used against Afghanistan,” Ashrafi said.
Ashrafi said peace and stability in the region were in the interest of all countries and thanked Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia for their efforts to facilitate dialogue between Pakistan and the Taliban.
He also warned that any protests or actions directed against Pakistan’s armed forces would face strong resistance, saying religious schools and mosques in Pakistan would be prepared to support the country’s security and stability if needed. Protecting the country was a collective responsibility, he said.
Ashrafi urged Pakistan’s political parties to show political maturity and engage in dialogue to strengthen the country’s defence, economy and internal stability. He also criticised the use of inflammatory language in politics, saying those who incite hatred do not seek peace.
Taliban officials have consistently denied the presence or activity of militant groups in Afghanistan and have said they will not allow Afghan territory to be used to threaten other countries, including neighbouring states.
Pakistan, however, has repeatedly expressed concern about militant groups operating from Afghan soil, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and has called on the Taliban to dismantle their networks.
