Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, chief of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) political party, on Sunday criticized the government of Pakistan for blaming Afghanistan over attacks.

Speaking at a rally in Punjab province, Rehman pointed out the irony of the government of Afghanistan being questioned over terrorism within Pakistan, and asked, “If terrorists are infiltrating from across the Afghanistan border, then where are you at the border?”

He noted that Pakistan declared a war against terrorism, yet terrorism continues to rise.

Rehman mentioned that Pervez Musharraf, the former president of Pakistan, had allowed the United States to use Pakistan’s air bases for “attacking Afghans”.

“Did they ever complain to you that why planes fly from your airports and attack us? They did not complain about your planes and your bombing. You ruined the lives of thousands of people for 20 years. You destroyed the tribes.

“Do you know that those who live in the border areas are Pakistani and they hate the institutions of their country and want to fight against the institutions of their country? Is someone else to blame for the hatred you have created against yourself?” Rehman asked.

Pakistani officials have repeatedly claimed that attacks in the country are planned in Afghanistan and their perpetrators enter Pakistan from Afghanistan.

However, the Islamic Emirate has rejected these claims and said that Afghanistan is not responsible for Pakistan’s “security failure”.