RASC News Agency : Maulana Fazlur Rahman, leader of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party, stated that 30,000 armed Pakistani youth fought in Afghanistan in support of the Taliban, in response to statements made by General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Pakistani media reported on Monday, May 6, that Maulana Fazlur Rahman, speaking to supporters of his party in Karachi, challenged the Pakistani army chief’s claim about the closure of the border with Afghanistan. He said the 30,000 Pakistani youth who participated in the war in Afghanistan would return to Pakistan with greater strength.
The leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam implicitly criticized General Qamar Javed Bajwa for spending billions of Pakistani rupees on erecting barbed wire along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Quoting Bajwa, he said, “No one can cross the border into Afghanistan, and no one can return.” Fazlur Rahman questioned how billions of Pakistani rupees were spent on the border while 20,000 to 30,000 armed Pakistanis participated in the conflict against Afghanistan security forces and the United States.
The Pakistani cleric challenged the Pakistani army, asking, “Where is the barbed wire now, when the youth who went to Afghanistan are returning to Pakistan with greater strength to face your army?” Maulana Fazlur Rahman, known for his support of extremist groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan, stated that the Pakistani army is powerful and well-equipped, but cannot be trusted.
So far, Pakistani military officials have not responded to the statements made by the leader of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam. Pakistani officials have previously accused the Taliban in Afghanistan of harboring and supporting members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
This issue led to conflicts last year between Pakistani border guards and the Taliban after Pakistani military airstrikes in Kunar and Paktika provinces in Afghanistan. Pakistan claims that TTP members launch attacks on Pakistani cities from Afghanistan.
The Taliban have denied the Pakistani authorities’ statements, considering threats from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan an internal matter for the country.
