ISLAMABAD: Pakistani religious scholars on Wednesday called on the international community not to alienate the Taliban and support them for a peaceful Afghanistan.
Afghanistan witnessed a rapid political change in recent weeks when its government collapsed after the Taliban seized control of the country and took over Kabul, 20 years after their previous government was ousted by a US-led invasion.
Since returning to power, the Taliban have said they want to maintain good relations with the international community and form “an all-inclusive” future government. Pakistan has also pushed that the international community stay engaged in Afghanistan to help achieve durable peace, security and development in the war-ravaged nation.
"The declarations made by the Afghan Taliban and the patience with which they are resolving issues should be supported by the world so that there is peace in Afghanistan and peace in Afghanistan is peace in the entire region," the Pakistani religious scholars representing different Muslim groups said in a joint declaration after a convention in Islamabad.
"They are fulfilling their commitments," the ulema said. "We demand from international community that they should not alienate Afghanistan in current circumstances."
The prime minister's special aide on the Middle East and interfaith harmony, Tahir Ashrafi, who also leads the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC), told Arab News during the convention that consultations among regional scholars are underway and a virtual consultative meeting on the Afghan situation will be held by the Muslim World League in first week of October.
"International community should cooperate with Taliban as they have announced amnesty for all, opened girls’ education institutions and working on inclusive government,” Ashrafi said.
Other participants of the ulema convention expressed hope the Taliban would form an inclusive government, as they have promised. During their previous rule in 1996-2001, they had persecuted minority groups, including the Shia Hazara community.
"Their initial statements were very encouraging," Arif Hussain Wahidi, central general secretary of the Shia Ulema Council (SUC) told Arab News.
"It is essential for peace and stability in Afghanistan that Taliban-led government look after and safeguard interests of all sects."
Syed Ziaullah Shah Bukhari, president of Muttahidah Jamiat Ahle Hadith Pakistan, said Taliban leadership is now more mature than they were two decades ago.
"World should not doubt their intentions," he said. "They are educated and diplomatically more connected than before so we have all our hopes that they will practically implement their vision."
During the convention, the ulema condemned continuous attacks by Houthi militants on Saudi Arabia.
"The world leadership, United Nations and OIC should take immediate notice of this matter and stop the attacks on Saudi Arabia,” the joint declaration said. "The defense of the Harmain Al-Sharifain is the defense of Pakistan. For us, the Harmain Al-Sharifain is the Red Line."
They also called for the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist jailed in the US for attempting to shoot a group of US soldiers and FBI agents in Afghanistan who were interrogating her for alleged links to Al-Qaeda in 2008.
“We demand immediate release of Afia Siddiqui from US jail," the Pakistani ulema said. "When US has signed deal with Taliban and war in Afghanistan has come to an end then it should also release Siddique."
