Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, the leader of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party, has said that the situation in Afghanistan is better than in Pakistan and that Pakistan is facing a difficult path.

Speaking at a gathering, Fazl-ur-Rehman said Pakistan has become isolated in the region and is facing tensions with both India, its long-time rival, and Afghanistan. He stressed that the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan benefits neither country and should come to an end.

He called on both sides to avoid accusations and propaganda against each other, saying: “Stop the propaganda. One side says it is innocent, and the other says the same. One says it is fighting in self-defence, and the other makes the same claim. These things do not solve the problem.”

The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leader added that his party is ready to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan, but said an appropriate environment must first be created for such a process.

He also said Western countries are unhappy with the return of the Islamic Emirate to power in Afghanistan and that Pakistan should not shape its policies according to their demands.

Referring to Pakistan’s attacks on Afghanistan, Fazl-ur-Rehman said: “There are armed groups inside Pakistan, but you go and bomb Afghanistan. First deal with what is happening at home, then make decisions about outside.”

He added that the time for using “victimhood” to justify war has passed and urged Pakistani authorities to reconsider their policies.

German prosecutors have launched an investigation into five Bundeswehr soldiers over allegations of theft during Germany’s evacuation mission at Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan in 2021, according to German media reports.

The Kempten Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the five soldiers, who reportedly served with Parachute Regiment 31 of Airborne Brigade 1 and were deployed as part of Germany’s evacuation contingent during the Islamic Emirate takeover of Afghanistan.

According to Bild am Sonntag, the alleged thefts occurred in the military section of Kabul airport, where military equipment and memorabilia were available for purchase. The soldiers are accused of taking T-shirts and cloth insignia intended for military uniforms. Reports within the Bundeswehr have also alleged that knives were stolen.

The prosecutor’s office said the investigation remains ongoing.

German media reported that the case came to light during a separate investigation involving members of Parachute Regiment 26. During interviews conducted as part of that inquiry, soldiers reportedly disclosed the alleged incidents in Kabul.

A spokesperson for Germany’s Ministry of Defence said the military disciplinary prosecution service referred the matter to the Kempten Public Prosecutor’s Office after becoming aware of a possible criminal offence.

The case was subsequently forwarded through the Munich Public Prosecutor General’s Office to the Federal Public Prosecutor to determine whether the allegations could constitute looting, a potential violation of international criminal law.

According to the Defence Ministry, investigators also examined photographic evidence but found no indication of actions that would amount to looting. The Federal Public Prosecutor therefore concluded there was no basis for pursuing charges under Germany’s Code of Crimes against International Law, and the case was returned to the Kempten Public Prosecutor’s Office.

German media reported that prosecutors are now examining whether the alleged conduct could constitute armed robbery because the soldiers were carrying weapons while deployed at the airport.

The reports also said Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Army Inspector Lieutenant General Christian Freuding have been informed of the investigation.

Afghan and Uzbek officials, in separate meetings in Kabul, emphasized expanding economic, transit, and agricultural cooperation, facilitating visa issuance, and implementing joint projects between the two countries.

Jamshid Khodjayev, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, said during a meeting with Ahmad Jan Bilal, Director General of State-Owned Companies and CEO of the National Development Corporation, that Uzbekistan has issued 5,000 visas to Afghan citizens so far this year and is working to further simplify the visa issuance process.

Khodjayev added that the high-level Uzbek delegation had traveled to Kabul with a strong commitment to expanding bilateral relations. He also announced that the feasibility study for the Afghan-Trans project has been completed and said a Uzbek technical team will remain in Kabul to coordinate the export of Afghanistan’s fresh fruit.

He said Uzbekistan has committed to purchasing 100,000 tonnes of cotton from Afghan farmers and will also cooperate in supplying chemical fertilizers, improved seeds, and encouraging Uzbek investors to participate in Afghanistan’s infrastructure and development projects.

Ahmad Jan Bilal, meanwhile, said bilateral ties continue to strengthen, noting that trade between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan reached nearly $2 billion over the past year. He called for greater facilitation of business and tourist visas, expanded exports of Afghan fresh fruit to Central Asia, faster implementation of the Afghan-Trans project, and stronger cooperation in the textile industry.

Meanwhile, Acting Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mullah Mohammad Fazel Mazloom met with Uzbekistan’s Minister of Transport, Ilhom Makhkamov, to discuss expanding transport and transit cooperation. The Uzbek minister pledged to provide greater facilities to increase the movement of Afghan transit vehicles into Uzbekistan.

Separately, Acting Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Ataullah Omari invited Uzbek investors to invest in Afghanistan’s agriculture and livestock sectors during a meeting with the Uzbek deputy prime minister.

Khodjayev also expressed interest in investing in Afghanistan’s agricultural sector and farm machinery, saying Uzbekistan needs Afghan agricultural products, including cotton, potatoes, and other produce, and is ready to cooperate with Afghanistan in expanding production and processing.

The two sides agreed to establish a joint technical team to follow up on and implement the agreements reached in the agricultural sector.