Pakistani media reported that a delegation of religious scholars, headed by the Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (JUI-F) chief Mullana Fazal Ur Rehman, is set to travel to Afghanistan on January 3.

The Express Tribune quoted sources as saying that the Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Interior and the Foreign Office have finalized the arrangements for various meetings, focusing primarily on addressing the Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) issue and resolving tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.

The Islamic Emirate earlier invited Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman as the bilateral relations between the two countries have recently become troubled. 

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, the acting Defense Minister, Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, denied the claim about the presence of TTP’s sanctuaries in Afghanistan.

“We deny the centers of TTP. The allegations they make are baseless,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mullah Sherin Akhund, a senior leader of the Islamic Emirate and governor of Kandahar province, is expected to travel to Islamabad early next month in a fresh bid to break the stalemate between countries over the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) issue, Dawn reported.

Mullah Sherin’s interactions in Islamabad will include meetings with intelligence and Foreign Office officials, according to Dawn.

“An insecure Afghanistan will never be in the interest of the neighboring countries. The security in Afghanistan is security in the neighboring countries,” said Abdul Rauf Tawana, political analyst.

“Any kind of negotiations with Pakistan are effective after its (Pakistan’s) election and by the officials of Afghanistan who are not any more an interim government,” said Toreq Farhadi, political analyst.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, spokesperson of Pakistan’s foreign ministry, in an interview with Pakistani media said that Islamabad hopes that in 2024, the Afghan government will respond to their concerns and take action against "terrorist" groups.

The spokesperson added that her country has always sought good relations with Afghanistan and wants to expand bilateral relations in the field of trade.

The Acting Defense Minister, Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, recently said that citizens of Pakistan and Tajikistan are involved in many terrorist attacks in Afghanistan.

The Islamic Emirate has yet to comment on the reports released in Pakistani media but earlier stated that the arrival of Fazal Ur Rahman is aimed to resolve the rising tensions between the two countries.