PESHAWAR: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Sunday urged the Afghan Taliban not to allow their territory to be used against Pakistan, warning that India can never be a friend or well-wisher of Muslims.
Addressing participants of a Gaza March at Kabotar Chowk on Ring Road in Peshawar, the JI chief said Afghanistan’s soil was being misused for activities harmful to Pakistan. He cautioned the Afghan leadership not to fall for India’s overtures, saying that India’s history and actions clearly show its hostility toward Muslims.
“India cannot be your benevolent ally,” he said. “If a difficult time comes upon Afghanistan, India will not stand by you; it will celebrate your misfortune.”
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman urged both Pakistan and Afghanistan to develop a joint strategy to counter terrorism and protect regional stability. He stressed that Afghanistan must act responsibly, preserving its independence and sovereignty.
The JI leader also reiterated his party’s commitment to facilitating dialogue between the two neighbouring Muslim nations, emphasizing that Jamaat-e-Islami is ready to play its part in resolving misunderstandings.
He said, “We are an ideological nation, and the Jamaat-e-Islami is organizing the people of Pakistan for a real change.” He announced that the party’s movement for systemic reform would begin from Minar-e-Pakistan, vowing to continue the struggle for an equitable and just society.
Commenting on Pakistan’s education system, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman lamented that education had become class-based, creating divisions in society and hindering national unity.
Earlier, former Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan explained the reasons behind his decision to part ways with Jamaat-e-Islami, clarifying that it was not driven by resentment or personal differences. Speaking on a television channel, Mushtaq said his resignation stemmed from a desire to work more freely on humanitarian causes, including human rights advocacy and efforts for Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s release.
He revealed that he had tendered his resignation on September 19, the same day he departed from Sicily for Gaza, believing there was little chance of returning alive. “I had written my will and settled all affairs in Pakistan before leaving, and that’s when I submitted my resignation,” he said.
