{"id":86914,"date":"2026-08-17T12:49:30","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T12:49:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/?p=86914"},"modified":"2026-08-18T13:10:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T13:10:33","slug":"fazlur-rehman-calls-for-new-future-based-on-stronger-pakistan-afghanistan-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/2026\/08\/17\/fazlur-rehman-calls-for-new-future-based-on-stronger-pakistan-afghanistan-ties\/","title":{"rendered":"Fazlur Rehman calls for \u2018new future\u2019 based on stronger Pakistan-Afghanistan ties"},"content":{"rendered":"<h6 style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>JUI-F chief says Islamabad and Kabul can jointly serve as a bridge connecting South, Central, East Asia and Middle East<\/em><\/h6>\n<p><strong>ISLAMABAD:<\/strong> Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has called for a new era of stronger Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, saying the two neighbouring countries should work together to build a peaceful and prosperous future based on their historic, religious and cultural bonds.<\/p>\n<p>Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad marking the fifth anniversary of Afghanistan\u2019s Victory Day, organized by the Embassy of Afghanistan, Maulana Fazlur Rehman welcomed Afghan Ambassador Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb\u2019s emphasis on improving relations with Pakistan and other neighbouring countries.<\/p>\n<p>He said he fully endorsed the Afghan envoy\u2019s message of goodwill and wanted to reciprocate it \u201cwith double goodwill\u201d on behalf of Pakistan and its people.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Fazlur Rehman calls for \u2018new future\u2019 based on stronger Pakistan-Afghanistan ties\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rSD_pkM5KmA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cOur historical, religious and cultural ties demand that we determine our future as two strong and peaceful neighbours and seek solid foundations for a new future,\u201d he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed confidence that \u201cPakistan will be the support of Afghanistan and Afghanistan will be the support of Pakistan.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Quoting Allama Muhammad Iqbal\u2019s famous verses on Afghanistan, he highlighted the country\u2019s strategic geographical importance to Asia and said Pakistan, following its establishment, had also acquired a pivotal position connecting different regions.<\/p>\n<p>He said Pakistan and Afghanistan could jointly serve as a geographical bridge linking the Middle East, Central Asia, East Asia and South Asia, creating opportunities for greater regional connectivity and cooperation.<\/p>\n<p>The JUI-F chief stressed that both Afghanistan and Pakistan needed to recognize the strategic importance of their geography and, on that basis, develop a shared vision for the future.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-86915\" src=\"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/df460eb8-71ad-4fa5-a8f9-e852bf057b12.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"848\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/df460eb8-71ad-4fa5-a8f9-e852bf057b12.jpg 848w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/df460eb8-71ad-4fa5-a8f9-e852bf057b12-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/df460eb8-71ad-4fa5-a8f9-e852bf057b12-768x435.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/df460eb8-71ad-4fa5-a8f9-e852bf057b12-742x420.jpg 742w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/df460eb8-71ad-4fa5-a8f9-e852bf057b12-150x85.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/df460eb8-71ad-4fa5-a8f9-e852bf057b12-696x394.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 848px) 100vw, 848px\" \/><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cWe have to determine a common future, a future of unity, and I believe this could become a guiding step for the entire Muslim world and help bring the Islamic world together as one,\u201d he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Maulana Fazlur Rehman reiterated his long-standing position that Muslims constitute a single Ummah and advocated greater unity among Muslim countries.<\/p>\n<p>He said Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, T\u00fcrkiye and Iran could take the lead in advancing greater cooperation among Islamic countries, with other Muslim nations joining the process over time. \u201cWe have always desired and held the view that the Muslim Ummah is one,\u201d he said, advocating efforts toward the establishment of an Islamic bloc.<\/p>\n<p>He argued that the changing global environment required Muslim countries to reduce, and ultimately end, excessive dependence on external powers by pooling their collective strength and relying on their own capabilities. \u201cWe should bring our strength together, rely on our own existence and turn toward Allah Almighty to become one Ummah,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Maulana Fazlur Rehman said the Islamabad gathering represented an important opportunity for Pakistan and Afghanistan to convey a message of fraternity and cooperation.<\/p>\n<p>He said the two sides could overcome existing challenges through dialogue, mutual understanding and sustained communication, echoing the Afghan ambassador\u2019s emphasis on peaceful engagement. \u201cWe can resolve these difficulties with great wisdom through dialogue, understanding, discussion and communication,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-86916\" src=\"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/e58d506f-8a30-4d2f-8a18-9c5f7d408eaa.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"848\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/e58d506f-8a30-4d2f-8a18-9c5f7d408eaa.jpg 848w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/e58d506f-8a30-4d2f-8a18-9c5f7d408eaa-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/e58d506f-8a30-4d2f-8a18-9c5f7d408eaa-768x435.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/e58d506f-8a30-4d2f-8a18-9c5f7d408eaa-742x420.jpg 742w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/e58d506f-8a30-4d2f-8a18-9c5f7d408eaa-150x85.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/e58d506f-8a30-4d2f-8a18-9c5f7d408eaa-696x394.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 848px) 100vw, 848px\" \/><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>He maintained that there was no fundamental disagreement between the two sides over the desire to resolve their difficulties, as both Pakistan and Afghanistan wanted to overcome existing obstacles and strengthen their relationship.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The JUI-F chief said the two countries should aspire to present themselves to the world not merely as neighbouring states but as brotherly Islamic countries standing together as one.<\/p>\n<p>He concluded by expressing his hope that Pakistan and Afghanistan would translate their shared aspirations into practical cooperation and jointly determine their future. \u201cI believe Allah is witness that we desire Pakistan and Afghanistan to become one in spirit, and, God willing, we will determine our future together,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>JUI-F chief says Islamabad and Kabul can jointly serve as a bridge connecting South, Central, East Asia and Middle East ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has called for a new era of stronger Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, saying the two neighbouring countries should work together to build a peaceful and prosperous future based on 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