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Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday confirmed he met Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhunzada and held \u201ccomprehensive and inclusive talks\u201d on all issues.<\/p>\n
Fazl had travelled<\/a> to Kabul on Sunday along with an 11-member delegation on the Afghan interim government\u2019s invitation<\/a> after the JUI-F chief conveyed his desire to visit Afghanistan to discuss issues that had been souring ties between the two countries.<\/p>\n During his visit, Fazl, who undertook the trip in the middle of a hectic election campaign, met key Taliban leaders<\/a>, including the Afghan prime minister. It was his first trip to Afghanistan since the Taliban\u2019s assumption of control following the US withdrawal in 2021.<\/p>\n In an interview with Afghan National Radio and Television<\/em> today, which will be aired on Saturday, Fazl confirmed meeting the Taliban chief. The interview was conducted in Kabul hours before the JUI-F chief wrapped up his six-day trip to Afghanistan, which the JUI-F has described as \u201chighly successful\u201d.<\/p>\n When asked about his earlier remarks that he would travel to Kandahar to meet the Akhundzada, Fazl said, \u201cWe were in contact with them for this purpose. They positively responded to us. We received their full support and I am thankful to him.\u201d<\/p>\n To another question regarding his meeting with the Taliban chief, he said: \u201cOf course. I am not making hollow claims.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe discussed all issues between the two countries,\u201d Fazl said. \u201cThe purpose of my visit was that we do not confine ourselves to only one issue. We held comprehensive and inclusive talks. We covered all issues and exchanged suggestions for cooperation in all fields. They endorsed our stance in a very proper way,\u201d the JUI-F chief added.<\/p>\n Separately, in a statement on social media platform X today, the JUI-F media cell said Fazl held meeting meetings with Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar, Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani and Refugee Minister Khalil ur Rehman Haqqani.<\/p>\n Sirajuddin Haqqani also made similar comments and said his government wants cordial relations with Pakistan. \u201cTalks between Pakistan and Afghanistan on border affairs should move forward with consensus,\u201d the JUI-F quoted Haqqani as saying.<\/p>\n It also quoted Mullah Yaqoob as saying that Fazl\u2019s visit would help in reducing tensions between the two countries. \u201cI hope that situation will change after the visit,\u201d said Mullah Yaqoob, who has been very critical of Pakistan on several occasions.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Afghan Refugee Minister Rehman, who also met the JUI delegation, expressed serious concerns over Pakistan\u2019s policy towards Afghan refugees and called for an end to the \u201cunfair\u201d treatment, the JUI-F said.<\/p>\n The minister also urged Pakistan to give time to Afghans for the volunteer repatriation.<\/p>\n The meetings between the JUI-F chief and Afghan leaders come at a time when relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have suffered due to a spike in terrorist attacks<\/a>, mostly claimed by the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban.<\/p>\n Islamabad has stated that the TTP and other groups use Afghan soil against Pakistan. While the Afghan Taliban have denied the charge, authorities remain unconvinced and have demanded action against the TTP, its sanctuaries, and the handover of its leaders.<\/p>\n