NEW DELHI: Pakistani opposition leader and chief of Maulana Fazlur Rehman delivered a sharp and unusually direct critique of Pakistan’s military leadership on December 23, singling out Army chief Asim Munir and questioning the consistency of Islamabad’s cross-border security doctrine. In a speech that has triggered wide political discussion, Maulana Fazlur Rehman targets Asim Munir, confirms indirectly the Indian anti-terror military operation under ‘Operation Sindoor’ in Bahawalpur and Murid.
Speaking at a gathering of religious scholars, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazlur) chief condemned Pakistan’s recent military actions along the western border with Afghanistan, describing them as unjustified and strategically counterproductive. He argued that such actions were likely to further inflame tensions rather than address Pakistan’s security challenges. The event took place in Lyari, a Karachi neighbourhood that has recently drawn attention in India due to its portrayal in popular culture. However, Rehman’s remarks ensured that the focus remained firmly on Pakistan’s internal policy contradictions and its increasingly strained relations with neighbouring states. During his address, Rehman raised fundamental questions about the logic guiding Pakistan’s cross-border military operations. He pointed out what he described as a glaring inconsistency in how Pakistan justifies its actions against Afghanistan while simultaneously objecting to similar actions taken by India within Pakistani territory earlier this year.
The cleric argued that if Islamabad claims legitimacy in striking militant groups across the Afghan border on the grounds that hostile elements operate there, it weakens Pakistan’s moral and political position when it condemns India for targeting militant infrastructure inside Pakistan. He specifically referred to Indian strikes carried out under Operation Sindoor, which hit targets in Bahawalpur and Muridke. “If you justify attacking Afghanistan by claiming you are targeting your enemy there, then why do you object when India targets its enemy in Bahawalpur and Murid (inside Pakistan)?” Rehman asked
Rehman stressed that the selective application of principles undermines Pakistan’s credibility both domestically and internationally. By applying one standard to itself and another to its neighbours, he suggested, Pakistan risks exposing contradictions at the heart of its security policy. The JUI-F leader also took aim at the broader military establishment, pressing the issue of policy coherence. He argued that Pakistan cannot credibly condemn foreign strikes on its territory while simultaneously defending its own military operations beyond its borders using identical justifications. According to Rehman, such inconsistency damages Pakistan’s diplomatic standing and fuels regional instability. Rehman’s comments come at a time of renewed hostilities between Pakistani and Afghan forces, including cross-border clashes and airstrikes that have heightened tensions along the frontier. In recent months, both sides have accused each other of ceasefire violations and of supporting militant groups operating across borders.
Pakistan maintains that fighters from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operate from Afghan soil and pose a direct threat to its security. Kabul has repeatedly denied these allegations, countering that Pakistan itself harbours hostile elements and violates Afghan sovereignty through airstrikes and military incursions. Against this backdrop, Rehman warned that escalating military confrontation would serve neither Pakistan nor Afghanistan. He argued that continued reliance on force would only deepen instability across the region and risk drawing neighbouring countries into a broader cycle of conflict. The cleric emphasised that dialogue, political engagement, and mutual respect were the only viable long-term solutions to disputes between the two countries. He urged policymakers to prioritise diplomatic channels over military action, warning that the current trajectory could further destabilise South Asia.
Rehman’s intervention has added momentum to an ongoing internal debate in Pakistan over the military’s role in shaping foreign and security policy. While the armed forces remain the dominant institution in national security decision-making, a growing number of political and religious leaders are questioning the sustainability of a strategy centred on cross-border force.
In parliamentary terms, Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) holds ten seats in the National Assembly, making it the largest organised opposition party. However, the opposition benches are numerically dominated by 75 independent lawmakers aligned with the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Political analysts note that Rehman’s remarks have resonated beyond party lines, as they touch upon broader questions of national consistency, strategic logic, and regional credibility. His statements underscore the deepening divisions within Pakistan over how best to manage relations with neighbouring countries and respond to militant threats without further isolating the country diplomatically. As tensions persist on Pakistan’s western frontier and scrutiny grows over its regional conduct, Rehman’s critique highlights a critical fault line in Pakistan’s security discourse, one that pits military-first approaches against calls for political restraint and diplomatic engagement.
