- By Shivangi Sharma
- Mon, 09 Feb 2026 10:35 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Pakistan’s opposition leader, Maulana Fazlur Rehma,n has launched a sharp attack on the Shehbaz Sharif-led government and the country’s security establishment, accusing them of decades of failed foreign and economic policies that have left Islamabad isolated and economically weakened.
Speaking at a public gathering in Rawalpindi on Sunday, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief said Pakistan had “lost every friend it once had,” including Afghanistan and China, due to what he described as flawed strategic thinking over the past 78 years. Rehman questioned the rationale behind Pakistan’s long-standing Afghanistan policy, arguing that it has produced contradictory and damaging outcomes.
“In all the decades, we never paused to ask why our Afghan policy failed so miserably,” he said. Highlighting what he called a glaring inconsistency, Rehman remarked that trade with Afghanistan has been virtually frozen while security threats persist. “Not even a single pomegranate or melon can enter Pakistan, yet terrorists keep crossing the border,” he said, drawing applause from the audience.
His remarks were aimed at countering repeated claims by Pakistani officials that militants are infiltrating the country from Afghan territory. Rehman argued that if such infiltration is indeed occurring, the responsibility lies with Pakistan’s own security apparatus. “Authorities say terrorists are coming from there. If they are coming, stop them. If they are coming, eliminate them,” he said, adding that the Afghan government has not objected to Pakistan taking action against militant threats.
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‘Pakistan Has Lost Every Friend It Once Had’
The JUI-F leader also painted a bleak picture of Pakistan’s economy, calling the current situation “alarming.” He claimed that economic conditions in neighbouring Afghanistan, Iran, India and even China were now better than those in Pakistan. According to Rehman, Islamabad’s foreign and economic policies have been “complete failures” that have produced isolation, mistrust and insecurity.
Rehman further alleged that Pakistan’s foreign policy is not shaped by elected civilian leaders but by the military establishment. “One general comes and says we will negotiate; another comes and says we will wage war,” he said, arguing that such inconsistency has undermined the country’s credibility abroad.
He also criticised the handling of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project once billed as a game-changer for Pakistan’s economy. Rehman claimed that the project has stalled due to eroding Chinese confidence. “CPEC has seen no real progress during this tenure because China no longer trusts us,” he said.