Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Party Leader to Visit Kabul Next Week

Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, the leader of Pakistan's Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party, on Monday announced that he will visit Kabul next week at the invitation of the Taliban to enhance relations between the group and Pakistan.

He added that the purpose of this trip is to build trust between the Taliban and Pakistan.

During a press conference in the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, Rehman revealed that he had received an official invitation from the Taliban’s ambassador. However, due to elections, the visit couldn’t be organised sooner.

He said that now that the election preparation has decreased and possibly, he will visit Afghanistan next week.

This Pakistani religious leader close to the Taliban said, “We share cultural and religious ties with them. We are one and that the atmosphere of mistrust between the two countries must end.”

Last week, Rehman announced that he will travel to Kabul after Pakistan's elections and discuss building trust between Pakistan and the Taliban.

Rehman, often referred to as the spiritual father of the Taliban, maintains close ties with the Pakistani army and government. Simultaneously, he endeavours to uphold a strong relationship with the Afghan Taliban, including some individuals who were once his students.