Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leader Fazl-ur-Rehman reaffirmed that 40,000 Pakistani nationals have participated in the Afghan conflict during the past 20 years of NATO presence.
The prominent cleric spoke to his supporters and expressed concerns about the return of military veterans to Pakistan.
The statement is in line with ongoing reports suggesting possible military operations in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region, an area that Rehman described as harboring “terrorists”.
The remarks followed a recent visit by the commander of the US Central Command to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region adjacent to Afghanistan. Rehman pointed out that despite the government’s claims that the installation of barbed wire was to curb the movement of militants, Pakistani militants were crossing the border fence and returning to Pakistan. “40,000 Pakistanis went to war in Afghanistan, destroyed the fence and are now coming back,” he said.
Mr. Rehman made similar revelations last week about Pakistani involvement in the two-decade conflict.
Meanwhile, analysts have emphasized Pakistan’s important role in supporting the Taliban against US-led NATO and Afghan forces. Military expert Mohammad Radmanish said, “Terrorist organizations have benefited from Pakistan’s support since ancient times and even today, and these organizations continue to operate in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.” .
The Taliban claim Daesh fighters entered Afghanistan from Pakistan and accuse Pakistan of supporting Daesh Khorasan. Conversely, Islamabad has accused the Taliban of supporting the Pakistan Tehreek Taliban, which has claimed attacks on Pakistani forces, an allegation the Taliban denies.
As the Taliban continue to rule Afghanistan, the region has seen a sharp increase in suicide bombings and security incidents attributed to the Pakistani Taliban, particularly in Pakistan’s tribal areas.
