Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that stability in Afghanistan is a strategic necessity for the entire region, stressing that the country’s security is “directly tied to the interests of all neighbouring countries.”
Araghchi made the remarks at the “Meeting of Special Representatives of Afghanistan’s Neighbouring Countries Plus Russia,” held in Tehran. Special representatives from Russia, Pakistan, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan attended the gathering. The Taliban declined to participate.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said at the opening of the meeting that all developments related to Afghanistan would be reviewed.
Addressing the meeting, Araghchi said establishing regular mechanisms for dialogue among Afghanistan’s neighbours is a strategic necessity. “These meetings not only prevent misunderstandings,” he said, “but also enable coordination of policies and economic, border and humanitarian programmes, helping to strengthen mutual understanding and convergence of views among regional countries. They provide a suitable platform for reducing tensions and boosting constructive cooperation among neighbours.”
The Iranian foreign minister also said that “no extra-regional blueprint can resolve regional problems and crises,” adding that imported solutions or decision-making from outside the region do not bring stability to any country.
Araghchi emphasised the importance of expanding regional economic cooperation with Afghanistan, saying improved conditions could allow the country to serve as a link between Central Asia and South Asia, and between West Asia and the Asia-Pacific, creating a corridor for energy transit and trade.
Ahead of the meeting, Iran facilitated discussions among anti-Taliban political groups, resulting in a joint declaration titled “National Solidarity of Afghanistan’s Political Parties and Movements.” Encouraged by Tehran, Afghan political factions issued a statement calling for the resolution of Afghanistan’s crisis through political dialogue.
Hanif Atmar, Afghanistan’s former foreign minister, described the Tehran meeting as an important opportunity to advance a political process. He urged regional countries to support the launch of intra-Afghan negotiations and to “ask Afghan parties to hold these talks as soon as possible, in cooperation with the United Nations.”
