PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday said that Saudi Arabia played an outsized role in mediating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India.

Addressing party leaders and social media activists at Mufti Mehmood Markaz here, he thanked the Saudi Royal family for their efforts to make the ceasefire possible. He said that they were also thankful to other countries that worked to mediate a ceasefire.

Mr Rehman said Pakistan did not want a war; however, an incident took place in Pahalgam area of the occupied Kashmir where unarmed tourists were killed, and India without investigating the incident blamed Pakistan for it immediately. He said that the Indian stance was dictated by Modi’s domestic political needs. He said that even Indian political parties did not fully back Modi government stance.

Mr Rehman said that Pakistan rightfully demanded proper investigations into the attack. He said that India should have waited and accepted the Pakistan’s demand for investigations; however, instead of doing so, it carried out attacks in Bahawalpur, Muridkay and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, killing scores of civilians. He said that India tried to hoodwink international community by saying it had attacked terrorist centres in Pakistan. He said that the Indian actions were aimed at getting the United States and Europe on its back.

The JUI-F leader said that Pakistan on Saturday responded to Indian aggression, jolting the Indian military, forcing them to call for a ceasefire.

He said that Saudi Arabia and other countries played important role in mediating a ceasefire.

He also announced to rename the Gaza Martyrs Conference, scheduled for Sunday (today) as Gaza Martyrs and Pakistan Defence Conference, and asked the people from all parts of the country to take part in it. He said that public should join the gathering to throw their weight behind the armed forces of Pakistan.

He said that in the face of Indian aggression, it was the duty of nation to stand by its forces. He said that the help of Allah and nation’s unity gave victory to Pakistan.

Mr Rehman also congratulated the government, armed forces and political leadership of the country, and expressed condolences over the death of the innocent people caused by Indian aggression.

He said that region was saved from Indian-Israeli conspiracy to throw it into strife and mayhem. He said that Pakistan’s robust defense and role of political leadership and public support forced the enemy to retreat from its aggressive posturing.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2025