A fiery speech from a top Pakistani religious leader has ignited controversy, as he called out his own country's military for hypocrisy over airstrikes in Afghanistan—then invoked India's recent Operation Sindoor to drive the point home. Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), questioned why Pakistan objects to India's cross-border actions if it justifies bombing Kabul to target militants.

Speaking in Karachi's Lyari area on December 22, 2025, Rehman directly targeted Army Chief General Asim Munir. He highlighted Pakistan's recent strikes on Afghan soil, which Kabul claims killed civilians, and drew a blunt comparison: "If attacking Afghanistan to hit your enemies is fine, then don't complain when India targets Bahawalpur or Muridke." This refers to India's Operation Sindoor in May 2025, a precision strike on nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Rehman's remarks expose rare public dissent against the military's Afghan policy, amid reports of escalating drone and missile exchanges between Islamabad and Kabul.

Tensions have boiled since the Taliban's 2021 return, with Pakistan accusing Kabul of harboring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters responsible for domestic attacks. Afghanistan counters that Pakistani incursions violate sovereignty, vowing retaliation. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif recently warned of a "50 times stronger" response to Afghan threats, even hinting at Indian meddling in Kabul. Rehman's critique echoes long-simmering frustrations in Pakistan, where economic strains and militancy fuel questions about foreign adventures. His stance mirrors past regional ironies, like how U.S. drone strikes once blurred lines between counter-terrorism and sovereignty breaches.

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, in response to a Kashmir terror plot, destroying key infrastructure without ground incursions. Pakistan decried it globally, yet Rehman argues the logic now boomerangs: If precision strikes against "enemies" are valid, India's move was justified too.

This outburst could signal cracks in Pakistan's unified front, pressuring leaders toward de-escalation amid internal pushback. India, maintaining a hands-off approach, continues backing Afghan territorial integrity. As proxy wars risk spillover, Rehman's words highlight a need for consistent principles in a volatile neighborhood