PESHAWAR: Jamaat-i-Islami emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Wednesday said ‘blind and indiscriminate’ military operations will not restore peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He urged the decision-makers to draw lessons from past operations and rethink their approach to conflict resolution in the region. He stated this while addressing a peace jirga organised by the party in response to the worsening law and order situation, ongoing curfews, and military operations in various districts.

Current and former members of parliament, lawyers, religious scholars and tribal elders from across the province attended the proceedings, according to a statement issued from Markaz-i-Islami here.

Mr Rehman said that the government should stop weaponising legislation to seize mineral resources in tribal areas. “The brave tribal communities must not be made scapegoats.”

Says ‘blind and indiscriminate’ military operations cannot bring peace

He said that the Constitution clearly stated that local communities had the first right to resources discovered in their regions.

The JI chief authorised naib emir Prof Mohammad Ibrahim to consult with other political parties, tribal leaders, and stakeholders to devise a joint plan of peaceful protest — including sit-ins and a possible march to Islamabad — aimed at restoring peace in the province. He affirmed that JI would lead any such movement from the front.

The JI emir criticised the legacy of late Gen retired Pervez Musharraf, stating that the ‘dollar-driven’ policies initiated by the former dictator continued to haunt the country to this day. “Before launching a 22nd military operation, the leadership must assess what the past 21 had achieved in terms of lasting peace.”

“Pakistan is a federation of diverse nationalities — Pashtuns, Punjabis, Sindhis, and Baloch. They are not enemies. It is the ruling elite that pits them against each other for political gain,” he said, adding that the same politicians who traded votes for power in Senate elections, later cried helplessness when asked to deliver peace.

Calling for inclusive dialogue, Mr Rehman emphasised that no one should pose himself as absolute authority in the country and that solutions could only emerge through consultation and collective decision-making.

The JI leader stressed that peace in Pakistan was linked to stable relations with Afghanistan. “Afghanistan is our brotherly neighbour. Diplomatic engagement is a welcome step, and a peaceful Afghanistan is in the interest of both countries,” he said.

He also said that it was unfortunate that some actors showed eagerness for onion-and-potato trade with India while lacking the same passion for Kashmir’s freedom. “Unless the issue of Kashmir is resolved, no trade with India is acceptable. We reject any notion of third-party mediation as well,” he said.

He reiterated JI’s strong opposition to forced displacements and military operations that harmed innocent civilians. “These offensives not just martyred innocent children, women, and the elderly, but also soldiers who were sons of this soil.”

Rehman asserted that peaceful protest within constitutional boundaries was the democratic right of every citizen. “The Haq Do Balochistan Long March is a legitimate struggle for constitutional rights, and JI stands firmly with it,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2025