The Statesmen of Afghanistan and Pakistan Should Exercise Restraint

Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol Hamid, on the evening of Friday, January 3, 2025, at a ceremony honoring Quran memorizers at Anwar-ul-Quran School in Qasr-e-Qand, referred to the recent border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He advised the officials of both countries to practice “tolerance and restraint.”
According to the official website of the Sunni Friday Prayer Imam of Zahedan, Mawlana Abdol Hamid stated in his speech:
“Recently, there have been some tensions and clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Afghanistan and Pakistan are two Islamic nations that represent opportunities not only for each other but also for us Iranians and all Muslims. We aspire for security in these two Islamic countries.”

He added:
“Our advice to the statesmen of these neighboring countries is to exhibit tolerance and restraint. The people of Pakistan and Afghanistan have common interests. Therefore, the officials of these two nations should not allow emotional individuals to create conflicts.”

Pakistani Authorities Should Address the “Legitimate Demands” of Baluchistan’s People/ Both Sides Should Resolve Their Disputes through “Dialogue”
The Friday Prayer Imam of Zahedan further urged Pakistani authorities to address the problems in Balochistan and said:
“The long-standing disputes in Pakistan’s Balochistan province must be resolved through dialogue between both parties. Senior Pakistani officials should realize that negotiation and dialogue are the best solutions to problems and are in everyone’s best interest.”

He continued:
“The legitimate demands of the people of Baluchistan must be met, and Pakistani officials should recognize these demands. My advice to my dear brothers in Baluchistan is also to choose ‘dialogue’ over violence and conflict, as the latter leads to casualties on both sides.”

“Insecurity” Harms Everyone/ “Dialogue” and “Constructive Criticism” Are Preferred Over Other Methods
Mawlana Abdol Hamid stated:
“After the Bloody Friday incident in Zahedan, we declared that we would never close the door to dialogue and always prioritize negotiation and dialogue over other methods. We believe constructive criticism should be welcomed, and authorities should allow people to voice their concerns. However, I do not support defamation, false accusations, or lies; I emphasize honesty.”
He stressed the importance of “maintaining security” and said:
“I recommend and emphasize preserving security. Alhamdulillah, security has been established for some time with people’s cooperation. Insecurity harms everyone. We hope that Allah Almighty will solve the problems in the near future.”

Every Government That Disregards Its People Will Regret It
Mawlana Abdol Hamid referred to the people as “the greatest asset of any country” and said:
“The greatest asset of any country and government is its people, and any nation or government that ignores its people will eventually regret it.”
He added:
“The Iranian nation is one of the best in the world and one of the country’s greatest assets. We must stand by the people and address their demands.”

Our Policy Is to Avoid Responding to Insults and Vulgarity/ We Are Confident Insulters Will Not Achieve Their Goals
Concluding his remarks, Mawlana Abdol Hamid referred to a recently circulated defamatory video of a eulogist in cyberspace, saying:
“I have stated several times that our policy is not to respond to insults or vulgarity directed at us. However, if someone levels false accusations against us, we will respond, as the Prophets, peace be upon them, responded to accusations.”
He added:
“In my view, the matter of this eulogist who has made frivolous and absurd remarks should not be given much attention. Meanwhile, the Friday Prayer Imam of Zahedan and some judicial officials of the province have taken a stance against this eulogist, describing his frivolity as an attempt to sow discord and division.”
He further emphasized:
“Of course, we will not abandon our goals, and we are confident that those who engage in such frivolity and nonsense will not achieve the objectives they aim for.”