Islamabad (TDI): Afghanistan’s Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani has welcomed positive remarks made by Pakistani religious scholars and senior officials, saying such gestures reflect goodwill and can help ease tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.
Speaking in a video statement on Sunday, Haqqani expressed appreciation for a recent gathering of religious scholars in Pakistan, where Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and prominent scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani spoke favorably about Afghanistan.
“We are thankful for their approach and views,” he said, adding that any brotherly and constructive statements were warmly welcomed by Kabul.
Haqqani also acknowledged comments made by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who had earlier praised the Afghan minister’s call for resolving bilateral issues through dialogue. “We truly appreciate the positive remarks by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who spoke in a supportive manner about Afghanistan,” Haqqani noted.
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Reiterating Afghanistan’s stance on regional security, the interior minister stressed that the Islamic Emirate remains committed to peace and stability, both domestically and across the region.
He said Afghans had no intention of threatening any country and sought to reassure neighbors and the international community of Kabul’s peaceful intentions.
“When we have unprecedented security in our own country, we also share a message of brotherhood and peace with the world,” Haqqani said. “We want to ease people’s concerns, inside and outside Afghanistan, and assure everyone that Afghans do not intend to pose any threat.”
The Afghan minister further called on the international community to support Afghanistan’s reconstruction and urged citizens to stand behind the rebuilding process. “Our aim is to restore Afghanistan’s standing alongside the world’s major countries,” he said, emphasizing that the Afghan people had suffered enough from decades of conflict and destruction.
Haqqani’s remarks come amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan following a surge in militant attacks in Pakistan.
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Islamabad has accused Kabul of allowing the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to operate from Afghan territory, allegations that Afghan authorities have consistently denied.
Relations between the two neighbors deteriorated further after border clashes in October that killed dozens of soldiers and civilians on both sides.
Although a temporary ceasefire was later agreed upon and several rounds of talks were held, the negotiations failed to yield a lasting breakthrough.
Despite ongoing challenges, recent conciliatory statements from both sides have raised cautious hopes that dialogue and engagement could help reduce friction and pave the way for improved ties between Islamabad and Kabul.
Minahil Khurshid holds a master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from CIPS, NUST. She has a strong interest in current affairs, geopolitics, and policy analysis.
