KABUL: Interim Afghan Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani on Sunday expressed gratitude to religious organisations and personalities in Pakistan, including Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), for what he described as goodwill and positive intentions towards Afghanistan amid strained bilateral relations.
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Addressing an event in Kabul, Haqqani referred to a conference held on December 23 in Pakistan, during which JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and senior religious scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani criticised Islamabad’s recent strikes on militant targets in Afghanistan and Iran, as well as the deportation of Afghan refugees.
H.E. Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani in Kabul:
We appreciate all sides with goodwill toward Afghanistan. The recent gathering of scholars in Pakistan & the positive remarks of FM Ishaq Dar are welcomed. Such statements strengthen constructive engagement & bring nations closer. pic.twitter.com/RRjB3OXlm5
— برهان الدین | Burhan uddin (@burhan_uddin_0) December 28, 2025
افغانستان اور مہاجرین کے مسلےپر قائد جمعیت کا موقف#مجلس_اتحادامت_اجتماع pic.twitter.com/WLQv2mpYvA
— Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Pakistan (@juipakofficial) December 23, 2025
Maulana Fazlur Rehman had argued that while refugee issues could pose challenges, they should be resolved through dialogue rather than expulsion, particularly for communities that had lived in Pakistan for decades. A declaration issued at the conference warned that rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan were not in the interest of either country and would only benefit “anti-Islamic forces”.
Haqqani said the Afghan leadership was “deeply grateful” for the supportive remarks made by Fazlur Rehman, Mufti Taqi Usmani and other Pakistani religious figures. He also welcomed what he termed positive statements by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar regarding Afghanistan.
“If goodwill, good interaction and positive relations are established between countries, and nations are brought closer to each other, then we welcome it,” Haqqani said, adding that Afghanistan remained committed to regional peace and stability.
He stressed that the Afghan people harboured no ill intentions towards any country and urged the international community to support Afghanistan’s reconstruction and development efforts. “Afghanistan has entered the reconstruction phase, and we want other countries to become our partners on this path,” he said.
Meanwhile, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi echoed similar sentiments, praising Pakistani religious scholars for advising their government in favour of peace and dialogue. He expressed hope that ulema would continue to play a constructive role in promoting brotherhood and reducing tensions between the two neighbours.
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The statements come as Pakistan-Afghanistan relations remain tense over cross-border militancy, stalled talks, and suspended trade ties following failed negotiations aimed at addressing security concerns.