PESHAWAR: Jamaat-i-Islami emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Wednesday opposed a fresh military action against militants, saying the past military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan didn’t yield results.

“The outcome of previous military operations should be examined before the launch of fresh military operations,”Mr Rehman told reporters here.

He complained that military operations displaced people and caused collateral damage.

The JI emir said that people were troubled by displacement in the intense cold.

Questions resettlement of militants in region

“Imagine the misery of people when they’re asked to leave their homes at midnight,” he said.

Mr Rehman said the families hosting displaced persons also faced issues.

He said that the agreement, signed between the government and the 24-member committee, should be immediately implemented, and that people should be compensated for their destroyed structures and resettled within the promised time.

The JI emir also raised questions about the resettlement of militants in the region despite the presence of security forces.

He urged Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to focus on the development of KP while fulfilling his party’s responsibilities.

Mr Rehman insisted that CM Afridi opposed military operations but the administration working under him had been signing agreements.

“You [CM] cannot exonerate yourself by saying the military operations are being carried out against your will,” he said.

The JI chief accused the federal government of ignoring the issues facing displaced people.

He urged the federal government to hold meaningful talks with Afghanistan and resolve issues, saying people suffer from conflicts.

“Only the enemy is benefitting from the current Pak-Afghan tensions,” he said.

Mr Rehman said that the Taliban regime must ensure that the Afghan soil isn’t used against Pakistan, while Islamabad should try to normalise relations with Kabul.

He requested the leadership of both countries to resolve all issues through dialogue.

The JI emir, however, said before negotiations were held, Pakistan and Afghanistan should reopen bilateral trade routes to the relief of traders, farmers and many others, who were badly hit by the prolonged border closure.

He said that hundreds of Pakistani students were stranded on the other side of the border due to tensions.

Mr Rehman urged the federal government to ensure early yet safe homecoming of those students.

He also advocated for a local government system and said only local governments could resolve people’s issues at grassroots level.

The JI chief called for strengthening the LG system and opposed any extension in the tenure of the current local bodies in the province.

He said the local body elections should be held on time.

Mr Rehman also criticised the PPP government in Sindh over deaths in the Karachi shopping plaza fire and complained that many people were still missing.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2026