During a meeting in Tehran yesterday, Russia and six neighboring countries of Afghanistan called on the Taliban and Pakistan to return to the negotiating table and resolve their issues through diplomatic means
The Iranian government announced this today (Monday, December 15) in a statement.
According to the communiqué, the aforementioned countries, while supporting ongoing efforts to reduce tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan, declared their readiness to help reinforce these efforts.
The statement noted that they also expressed opposition to any attempt by foreign nations to establish a military presence in Afghanistan.
A meeting on Afghanistan was held yesterday with the participation of special representatives from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia. According to Iran, the participating countries emphasized strengthening stability in Afghanistan and stated their willingness to assist the Taliban in achieving this goal, should the group desire it.
Based on the Iranian statement, the parties stressed the importance of sustaining economic and trade relations with Afghanistan to improve the livelihood of its people. They also affirmed that integrating Afghanistan into regional political and economic processes is essential.
Request from the international community
The statement noted that Russia and Afghanistan’s neighbors urged the countries “responsible for the current situation” in Afghanistan to fulfill their responsibility in aiding the country’s reconstruction and economic recovery. They further stressed that this aid should not be used as a “political lever.”
Participants in the Tehran meeting declared their readiness to assist the Taliban in combating terrorism, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. They also emphasized the responsibility of the international community to lift sanctions and unfreeze Afghanistan’s assets.
They called on international organizations to support the return of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries and to create conditions for their dignified repatriation.
It was agreed that the fifth meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries would be held soon in Turkmenistan. Pakistan expressed its readiness to host the second round of the Special Representatives meeting of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries in Islamabad in March 2026.
In his speech at the Tehran meeting, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, referring to the 20-year presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan, stated that “foreign prescriptions” are not effective for the countries of the region.
