No intention of creating problems for Pakistan, assures Afghanistan's Akhund

• Sharia doesn't allow any country, including Pakistan: Akhund.
• Fazl and other Pakistani religious leaders meet Akhund in Kabul.
• We have brought a message of solidarity to Afghanistan, says Fazl.

PESHAWAR: Acting Prime Minister of Afghanistan Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund on Monday said his country did not have any intention of inflicting damage upon or creating problems for Pakistan or any other neighbouring country.

During the meeting with a delegation of Pakistani religious leaders led by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Mullah Hasan Akhund said they dealt each issue in Afghanistan as per the Islamic Sharia, as the country was governed by Sharia, and Sharia did not allow hurting anyone or any other country including Pakistan.

The Afghanistan acting PM also reiterated that they would not give permission to use their soil against any other country.

He, however, called for an end to what he termed “cruel attitude of the Pakistan government authorities” towards the Afghan refugees, saying such actions created more problems rather than finding solutions to issues.

Afghan interim government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that Mullah Akhund welcomed the Pakistani religious leaders in Kabul and appreciated their role in resolving issues and misunderstandings.

Mujahid said the delegation also discussed other issues being faced by the traders of the two countries. He said Akhund told the Pakistani religious leaders that Afghanistan and Pakistan could never be separated from each other as both countries had many similarities.

The two sides stressed the need for finding more ways to resolve issues and avoid practices that could further escalate tensions between the two neighbours. 

Besides Fazl, Maulana Abdul Wasey, Maulana Salahuddin, Maulana Kamaluddin, Maulana Jamaluddin, Maulana Salimuddin Shamzai, Maulana Imdadullah, Maulana Sheikh Mohammad Idrees, Dr Atiqur Rahman and Mufti Ibrar were also present in the meeting.

The Afghan government was represented by Hasan Akhund and was accompanied by chief justice of Afghanistan Maulvi Abdul Hakim Haqqani, foreign minister Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi, minister of Hajj and Auqaf, Maulvi Noor Mohammad Saqib, and other high-ranking officials.

Muttaqi stressed the need for facilitating the traders and businessmen of the two countries. 

"The basic purpose of our visit is to remove the mistrust between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” said Fazl.

He told the Afghan officials that JUIF had raised voice against Pakistan authorities’ attitude towards the Afghan refugees, and termed it one of the factors responsible for creating tensions between the two countries. “We have brought a message of solidarity to Afghanistan and believe that it will have a positive impact,” said Fazl.

Meanwhile, according to sources, the Pakistani Taliban have not been informed about any likely meeting between them and the Pakistani religious leaders. However, the hosts of the Pakistani delegation may arrange their meetings with certain leaders of the Pakistani Taliban during their stay in Afghanistan.