Fazlur Rehman Steps In to Ease Pak-Afghan Tensions

Islamabad:  Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam‑Fazl (JUI‑F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has stepped forward to offer mediation between Pakistan and Afghanistan following recent deadly border clashes.

Speaking at the Convention Centre in Islamabad, Maulana Fazl said he is already in contact with Afghan leadership and is ready to assist in reducing hostilities. “I have previously helped ease tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan and can do so again,” he said.

He urged both sides to resolve disputes through dialogue and mutual understanding instead of aggression. He called for a “truce of words,” warning that inflammatory statements could worsen the situation. “We need calm and maturity, not provocation,” he added.

Maulana Fazl had visited Kabul in January of the previous year and met senior Taliban officials, including Maulvi Abdul Kabir and Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah. During that visit, the Afghan side assured that their soil would not be used against Pakistan or any other country.

Just hours before Maulana Fazl’s mediation offer, security sources reported that Taliban militants, including fighters associated with Fitna al-Khawarij, opened unprovoked fire on Pakistani positions in the Kurram district. The Pakistani military responded with strong retaliatory strikes, targeting militant posts.

According to military reports, several Taliban positions and a tank were destroyed, forcing the militants to retreat.

This is the second major border confrontation in recent days. On October 11, Afghan forces reportedly attacked multiple locations including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, and Kurram, with additional clashes in Chitral, Dir, and Baramcha.

In response, Pakistani forces carried out cross-border precision strikes, destroying Taliban posts and training camps. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced that over 200 militants were killed, and 21 hostile positions were briefly captured and neutralized.

With tensions still running high, Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s offer of mediation and his calls for dialogue may prove important in preventing further escalation between the two nations.