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KABUL – A senior Pakistani cleric, Fazlur Rehman, engaged in a rare meeting with the reclusive Taliban supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, in Kandahar province, as confirmed by his office on Saturday. This marks the second publicly known encounter between a foreign official and Akhundzada, who is known for his infrequent public appearances and limited travels beyond the southern Afghan province of Kandahar.
Notably, this meeting is the first documented encounter between Akhundzada and a delegation from Pakistan. Fazlur Rehman, the leader of the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, becomes the first senior Pakistani politician to visit Afghanistan since the Taliban assumed power in 2021, with his party being recognized for its support of the Taliban.
While the Taliban has yet to officially confirm the meeting with Akhundzada, Rehman’s party has not disclosed whether the meeting took place in Kandahar or the capital, Kabul.
Rehman’s visit to Afghanistan is framed as an attempt to alleviate tensions between the two neighboring countries. The backdrop includes Pakistan’s expulsion of foreigners, predominantly Afghans, without proper documentation since November, leading to strained relations with the Taliban. Additionally, both nations have exchanged accusations regarding a surge in militant attacks within Pakistan.
In an interview released by Rehman’s office, which aired on the Taliban-controlled Radio Television of Afghanistan, he stated, “The meeting with Haibatullah Akhundzada has been very positive. I received great support from Mullah Haibatullah, for which I am grateful. We have to move forward now by putting an end to old resentments.” However, the TV interview broadcast on Saturday night did not confirm the details of the meeting.
Rehman clarified that his visit to Afghanistan was not on behalf of the Pakistani government, although they were aware of it and approved it. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson previously mentioned that Rehman’s trip was in a private capacity and at the invitation of Afghan authorities. This historic meeting holds potential implications for regional diplomacy and cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
