Fazl-ur-Rehman: U.S. Using Pakistan Against Russia and China in Afghanistan

Leaders of two major religious parties in Pakistan called for a review of Islamabad's policies toward Afghanistan and for improving ties between Kabul and Islamabad.

Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, head of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (JUI-F), said during a joint press conference with Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, leader of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, that Russian and Chinese investment in Afghanistan is unacceptable to the United States, which is using Pakistan to counter this trend.

"Russian and Chinese investment in Afghanistan is not acceptable to the United States even for a moment, and it uses Pakistan to prevent it," Fazl-ur-Rehman said. "Therefore, we need to review our relations and revise our policies. We also call on the Afghan government to take steps to improve ties with Pakistan."

Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman emphasized that Pakistan should not enter conflicts benefiting regional and extra-regional powers at the expense of the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan. "To improve our relations with Afghanistan, whatever steps are necessary must be taken. Pakistan must under no circumstances enter a war that benefits regional powers rather than the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said. "We have concluded that we will continue offering advice and will also take action. If the government does not reconsider its conduct, we will launch public-level initiatives as well."

The Islamabad Institute of Strategic Studies stressed continuation of dialogue, constructive engagement and mutual understanding between the two countries as key to long-term regional stability.

University professor Mohammad Aslam Danishmal said: "The United States creates challenges in the region through Pakistan in order to endanger the economic and political interests of Russia and China."

These remarks come amid longstanding mutual accusations between Kabul and Islamabad, with each side previously accusing the other of destabilization and using its territory against the other, casting a shadow of mistrust over bilateral relations.