- Araghchi and Thani discuss Pak-Afghan tensions in phone calls.
- Iran and Qatar call on the regional states to support peace and stability.
- The ministers also review the latest developments in Gaza.
Iran and Qatar on Thursday expressed deep concern over the ongoing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan and urged regional countries to play a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability.
The development came during a telephone conversation between Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani.
“The foreign ministers of Iran and Qatar, while expressing concern over tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, stressed the importance of the continued good offices of the regional countries to maintain peace and stability in the region,” a statement from Iran’s foreign ministry said.
Relations between Islamabad and the Taliban-led administration in Kabul have further deteriorated after Pakistan witnessed two major terror attacks in recent days – one targeting Cadet College Wana in South Waziristan and another in Islamabad.
Tuesday’s suicide bomb struck the Islamabad District Judicial Complex, killing 12 people and injuring at least 36 others. The victims included lawyers and petitioners who were present at the courthouse.
The Islamabad blast occurred on the same day that Pakistani forces cleared Cadet College Wana in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s South Waziristan tribal district, killing all Fitna al-Khawarij militants – a term used for the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan – who had infiltrated the educational institution.
The statement further said Araghchi and Thani also discussed and exchanged views on bilateral ties and regional development.
The two sides stressed the importance of continuing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations in all areas of mutual interest, it added.
They also discussed the latest developments in Gaza and the recent US draft resolution submitted to the UN Security Council, stressing the need to continue consultations to prevent violations of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, particularly their right to self-determination.
Russia and Iran are pushing for continued Pak-Afghan talks
On November 12, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi exchanged views on the latest bilateral and regional developments.
They welcomed the agreement reached between the Taliban administration in Kabul and Islamabad – brokered by Qatar and Turkiye – for a mutual ceasefire and an end to cross-border firing along the Pak-Afghan borders.
Lavrov and Araghchi called for continued dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve differences through political and diplomatic means in the interest of ensuring regional stability and security.
They also discussed developments in the Middle East, particularly the Palestinian-Israeli issue and its treatment in the UN Security Council.
The two ministers reaffirmed their mutual commitment to the unconditional implementation of the Treaty on a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Russia and Iran, which entered into force on 2 October.
