Pak Cleric Questions Army: Why Object to India When Pakistan Acts in Afghanistan?

Senior Pakistani cleric and opposition leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman has openly questioned Pakistan’s military leadership over what he described as a double standard in its cross-border security policy, drawing a sharp comparison between Islamabad’s actions in Afghanistan and India’s counter-terror operations inside Pakistan.

Speaking at the “Pakistani Ummah Unity” programme in Lyari, Rehman criticised the approach of the Pakistan Army under Chief Asim Munir, particularly its justification for military strikes along the western border with Afghanistan.

Rehman asked why Pakistan objected strongly to India’s actions under Operation Sindoor earlier this year if Islamabad itself justified targeting militant groups across the Afghan border.

“If you justify attacking Afghanistan by claiming your enemies are present there, then why do you object when India targets its enemies in Bahawalpur and Muridke?” the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) chief said, directly challenging the military’s rationale.

The remarks come amid renewed hostilities between Pakistani and Afghan forces, with recent cross-border clashes and airstrikes escalating tensions. Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of harbouring militants linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, while Kabul has repeatedly denied the allegations and accused Islamabad of violating Afghan sovereignty.

Rehman warned that military escalation would only deepen instability in the region. He argued that Pakistan’s security doctrine lacked consistency and risked further diplomatic isolation. “If Kabul is attacked on the pretext of enemy presence, why is the reaction different when similar logic is applied by India?” he asked.

The JUI-F chief, whose party holds 10 seats in Pakistan’s National Assembly, said rising tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan served no strategic purpose and threatened broader regional stability. He stressed that dialogue and political engagement—not force—were the only sustainable paths to resolving disputes.

Rehman’s intervention has intensified debate within Pakistan over the role of the military in shaping foreign policy and the effectiveness of cross-border operations. Political analysts say his comments reflect growing unease among civilian leaders about continued reliance on military solutions in a volatile neighbourhood.

The episode highlights deepening divisions within Pakistan’s political landscape over how to manage relations with neighbouring countries and the long-term consequences of its security strategy in South Asia.