Senior Pakistani religious leader and politician Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman has condemned attacks on Afghanistan carried out under the pretext of targeting militant groups, calling such actions unjustifiable and counterproductive.

He urged both Kabul and Islamabad to resolve their disputes through dialogue and political engagement rather than military means.

Speaking at a gathering of Pakistani religious scholars titled “Pakistani Ummah Unity,” Fazal Ur Rehman, who heads the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) party, criticized Pakistan’s security approach toward Afghanistan.

Addressing Pakistan’s military leadership, he questioned the rationale behind cross-border actions, asking why attacks are justified against Afghanistan when similar logic is rejected in response to Indian strikes inside Pakistan.

“If you justify attacks on Kabul by claiming your enemies are present there, then why is your response different when India targets its enemies inside Pakistan?” he said.

Fazal Ur Rehman warned that continued tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan serve the interests of neither country and risk further destabilizing the region.

He stressed that dialogue, mutual respect, and political understanding remain the only sustainable solutions to long-standing disputes between the two neighbors.

Turkish intelligence agents have captured a senior member of Daesh near the Durand Line, reportedly preventing planned suicide attacks in Turkey and other countries, according to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency on Monday.

The suspect, identified as Mehmet Goren, is a Turkish citizen. He was apprehended during a covert operation and transferred to Turkey. Details on the timing of the operation or the involvement of Afghan and Pakistani authorities were not disclosed.

According to the report, Goren had risen through the ranks of Daesh and was allegedly tasked with carrying out suicide bombings in Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Europe.

Daesh has a history of deadly attacks in Turkey, including the January 1, 2017 shooting at an Istanbul nightclub that killed 39 people.

Anadolu Agency reported that Goren’s arrest also provided intelligence on the group’s recruitment strategies and planned activities.

Dozens of needy families in Kabul’s fifth district have received essential winter assistance from the Bayat Foundation, as part of ongoing efforts to ease hardship during the cold season and worsening economic conditions.

According to foundation officials, the aid package includes staple food items such as flour, rice, and cooking oil, along with warm blankets to help families cope with freezing temperatures. Haji Mohammad Ismail, Deputy Head of Bayat Foundation, said the distribution began in Kabul and will soon be expanded to other provinces.

“Our assistance includes flour, rice, cooking oil, and blankets,” Ismail said. “Today, we started distributing these items in Kabul’s fifth district, and God willing, the aid will reach other provinces in the near future.”

Afghanistan continues to face widespread poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity, with many families struggling to meet basic needs, particularly during winter when access to work and heating becomes more difficult.Humanitarian organizations and charitable foundations have stepped up relief efforts to support those most affected.

Beneficiaries welcomed the assistance, describing it as a lifeline. “May God bless you for helping the poor. We had nothing and no work,” said one recipient. Another added, “Thank you for your help. Our flour was almost finished.”

Bayat Foundation officials stressed that winter aid distributions will continue in Kabul and other provinces in the coming days, as part of their broader commitment to supporting needy families across the country.