Iran’s New Leader Offers Mediation In Taliban-Pakistan Conflict
A message attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader, has been published, calling for improved relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
A message attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader, has been published, calling for improved relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He called on Afghanistan and Pakistan to improve their relations in the interest of unity among Muslims and said he is willing to take steps to help.
In the message, issued on the occasion of the start of the Persian new year 1405, he said: we consider our eastern neighbours to be very close to us.
Since the outbreak of clashes between the Taliban and Pakistan, Iranian officials have repeatedly called for de-escalation. However, both sides have paid little heed to Tehran’s efforts. Iran’s foreign minister has on several occasions offered to mediate and host talks between the Taliban and Pakistan, but Kabul and Islamabad have not acted on those proposals.
Iran itself is currently engaged in a full-scale military conflict with the United States and Israel, which has reduced the likelihood of its mediation efforts being taken seriously by either side.
The Islamic Republic maintains close relations with the Taliban, but the group did not attend a recent regional meeting in Tehran aimed at easing tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.
This marks the first time Mojtaba Khamenei has publicly referred to the conflict between the Taliban and Pakistan. Iranian authorities are concerned that militant groups could exploit instability in Afghanistan and Pakistan to carry out attacks inside Iran.
Iran also maintains extensive economic ties with the Taliban. Before the recent clashes, Iran was the Taliban’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching around $4 billion.
