The delegation of Pakistani Ulema is currently in Kabul, Afghanistan to hold a series of talks with the Taliban government and TTP leaders on peace and education. The Pakistani Ulema team is visiting at the invitation of the Emirate Islami Afghanistan.
The delegation includes Mufti Taqi Usmani, Hanif Jalendhri, Maulana Tayyab Punjpir, Maulvi Anwarul Haq, and Mufti Ghulamur Rehman.
Read more: Pakistan’s endeavors to avert humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan
“At the invitation of the Afghan government, we arrived in Kabul today with a goodwill delegation, where discussions on aid work, education, and Islamic economy have started with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Education, and other high officials,” Muhammad Taqi Usmani tweeted.
افغان حکومت کی دعوت پر ایک خیرسگالی وفد کے ساتھ آج ہم کابل پہنچے جہاں وزیر اعظم وزیر داخلہ وزیرتعلیم اور دوسرے اعلی حکام سے امدادی کام تعلیم اور اسلامی اقتصاد پر گفتگو کاسلسلہ شروع ہوگیا ہے
— Muhammad Taqi Usmani (Official) (@muftitaqiusmani) July 25, 2022
According to the details, Afghanistan’s higher education is in a dire state. Therefore, Pakistan has offered to provide educational facilities to Afghan students through the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and Virtual University of Pakistan (VUP). However, Afghanistan does not even have nationwide internet connectivity but Pakistan will communicate the educational facilities via a television network.
Peace talks with TTP
Moreover, the Pakistani Ulema will also hold talks with the representatives of the banned group TTP as part of efforts to push for a peace deal. Important to note that Pakistan and TTP have held talks on multiple occasions, resulting in temporary ceasefires which are violated by either side, resulting in retaliatory attacks.
This time around, the peace talks have reached a deadlock as TTP demands the reversal of the FATA merger which Pakistan has rejected. Apart from this, Pakistan has honored other commitments like releasing some TTP prisoners and quietly giving presidential pardon to a couple of their senior commanders, as reported by the media.
Read more: Real reason behind Pakistan holding peace talks with TTP
During the visit, the Pakistani Ulema are expected to use their good offices and influence over the TTP for a negotiated deal. But chances of any major breakthrough are slim as the TTP believes that the 2018 religious decree issued by Pakistani Ulema, calling suicide attacks un-Islamic, was primarily against the group.