Pakistan Accuses Taliban Delegation Of Obstructing Istanbul Peace Talks

Ali Bagheri, Director General of Foreign Nationals Affairs at the ministry, said on Sunday that about 400,000 foreign nationals are currently working legally in Iran, while many others remain undocumented.

Under the new policy, all legal foreign workers will now be covered by social insurance, with Iranian employers required to ensure their employees are insured before hiring.

According to IRNA, foreign workers in Iran are not limited to Afghans, though Afghan nationals constitute the majority of the country’s foreign workforce.

In Fars Province, Majid Ahmadi, Director General of Foreign Nationals and Migrants Affairs, announced the introduction of a new “Kafeel (Sponsor) Plan”, which regulates the entry and employment of Afghan workers. The plan allows Afghans to enter Iran only through the Iranian embassy in Afghanistan under a work visa sponsored by an Iranian employer.

Ahmadi said that Iranians wishing to employ Afghan workers must obtain an official work permit, adding that the new measures are designed to formalise and monitor migrant employment.

Bagheri explained that the policy requires employers to assume full responsibility for foreign workers in the event of workplace accidents. “Every Iranian who hires a foreign worker must take responsibility for them and ensure they are insured before employment,” he said.

Conditions for Work Visa Issuance

Bagheri said that previously, work visas were issued only to specialists, investors, and foreign company managers. However, following the departure of many Afghan workers which led to a labour shortage in certain service sectors the government decided to facilitate the legal return of skilled Afghan workers who are already familiar and trusted by employers.

He explained that Afghans without valid work visas must exit Iran legally, obtain a visa from Afghanistan, and re-enter for temporary employment. These nine-month work visas will not be extendable within Iran.

“At the end of this period, workers must leave the country,” Bagheri said. “After three months, employers may apply for their re-entry if required.”

He added that to prevent labour monopolies, employers may replace departing workers with Iranians or other authorised foreign employees, ensuring that employment continues transparently and competitively.

The conference will take place in the Iranian capital from 27 to 28 October.

This marks the first time in 15 years that the ECO interior ministers’ meeting is being hosted by Iran.

According to the Taliban’s Interior Ministry, the main objectives of the visit are to expand regional cooperation and strengthen bilateral relations among ECO member states.

The Islamic Republic of Iran said the meeting is part of its broader policy to enhance cooperation and engagement with neighbouring countries.

Ali Zinevand, spokesperson for Iran’s Interior Ministry, described the gathering as “a highly important event”, noting that 10 member countries, including Iran’s key regional neighbours, will participate. He added that several bilateral and multilateral meetings will be held on the sidelines of the main session to discuss security, border management, and regional stability.

The Economic Cooperation Organization, established in 1985, includes Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan as member states.

According to the sources, the draft proposal emphasises the “non-violation of Afghanistan’s territory and airspace” and includes a commitment to prevent the use of Pakistani soil by Taliban opponents.

The document also reportedly calls for the establishment of a four-party mechanism to monitor and exchange information on any ceasefire violations, involving both sides and their mediators.

The second round of talks, which began on Saturday, continued into Sunday with the participation of mediators from Qatar and Türkiye. The outcome of these discussions is expected to shape the final agreement under the Doha ceasefire framework.

Pakistan has insisted that the focus of the talks must remain on Kabul taking firm and irreversible action against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups accused of launching cross-border attacks.

Last month, Pakistan conducted airstrikes on Kabul, claiming that TTP militants were operating from Afghan territory and using it to target Pakistani security forces.

The Istanbul dialogue marks the latest effort by Qatar and Türkiye to ease tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban administration following months of escalating border clashes and mutual accusations of harbouring militants.

Ibrahimi, who was the recipient of the 2024 International Children’s Peace Prize, said she will work with the United Nations over the next two years to amplify the voices of Afghan girls and advocate for their rights globally.

The UN said the 2025 cohort was chosen from more than 33,000 applications submitted from 150 countries. The group, aged 16 to 33, includes founders, activists, peacebuilders, and entrepreneurs working across UN agencies to advance causes such as gender equality, human rights, climate action, and peace and security.

In a post on Instagram, Ibrahimi said she would collaborate with the UN and its partners to advance the Sustainable Development Goals, using storytelling, international partnerships, and community engagement to empower Afghan girls and women.

The UN described Ibrahimi as an education advocate and founder and president of “Her Story,” an organisation promoting women’s empowerment through storytelling.

In November 2024, she was selected from 165 nominees across 47 countries to receive the International Children’s Peace Prize, which honours young people who make significant contributions to children’s rights and global peace.

Amanov said construction of the Afghan segment is expected to finish by the end of next year, after which Turkmenistan will start exporting gas to Afghanistan. He also reported significant progress in negotiations with Pakistan on finalising key agreements necessary for implementing the project.

“These agreements are essential for ensuring investor confidence and protecting future investments,” Amanov said, adding that discussions are more than 90 percent complete.

The TAPI pipeline, designed to transport 33 billion cubic metres of gas per year from Turkmenistan’s Galkynysh gas field, aims to boost regional energy integration. Turkmenistan completed its section of the pipeline in 2024 and is now focusing on facilitating the Afghan phase.

Construction of the 153-kilometre Serhetabat–Herat section inside Afghanistan began in September 2024. On 21 October, Turkmenistan’s national leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov inaugurated a new phase of construction on Afghan soil during a visit to Afghanistan.

Turkmenistan to Export Up to 1.5 Billion Cubic Metres of Gas to Afghanistan

Separately, Maksat Babayev, chairman of Turkmengaz, said Turkmenistan will supply gas to Afghanistan through the TAPI pipeline, beginning with 500 million cubic metres per year, and later increasing to 1.5 billion cubic metres annually.

The Taliban’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Office confirmed that Berdimuhamedov inspected progress on the project during his visit, calling TAPI one of Turkmenistan’s top national priorities and underscoring the importance of completing it on schedule.

The TAPI project, first proposed in the 1990s, is seen as a strategic energy corridor linking Central and South Asia. Its success depends on security and cooperation among all four participating nations.