The Pak-Afghan border at Chaman. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Senior officials from neighboring countries as well as Russia have urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to return to dialogue and resolve their differences through diplomatic means.
The call came on Monday at the end of the Tehran conference – a gathering of special representatives from Iran, Pakistan, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Russia.
The purpose of the meeting was to promote regional stability and a coordinated approach to the Afghan situation
Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Monday summarizing the deliberations, which reflected broad convergence among regional actors on security, economic and political priorities related to Afghanistan.
However, in contrast to Pakistan’s position, other participants appeared to adopt a lenient stance. There was a reference to security concerns, but at the same time, instead of calling on the Taliban regime to remove terrorist equipment, other participants expressed their readiness to work with Kabul.
According to the statement, the participants reviewed the latest developments in Afghanistan and emphasized the importance of regional convergence and a region-centric approach to address the country’s challenges.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of continuing humanitarian and economic difficulties in Afghanistan as well as strained relations between Kabul and Islamabad.
In a key regional signal, participants expressed support for all efforts to reduce tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
They emphasized their willingness to help strengthen such initiatives and expressly called on both sides to return to negotiations and resolve outstanding disputes through diplomatic channels.
On security, the envoys reaffirmed their shared concern about threats from Afghanistan.
While stressing the need to strengthen stability in the country, they announced that they are ready to help Afghanistan achieve this goal if the Afghan side requests support.
They also stated their readiness to work with Afghanistan to combat terrorism, drug trafficking and human trafficking, issues that continue to have cross-border implications for the region.
The statement also contained a clear message about foreign involvement in Afghanistan.
Participants opposed any efforts by foreign countries to establish a military presence in the country, reflecting lingering regional sensitivities after decades of external intervention.
They stressed that countries responsible for the current situation in Afghanistan must contribute to its reconstruction and economic, social recovery, but without making aid a political lever.
Economic stabilization and humanitarian concerns were prominent in the discussions.
The participants emphasized the responsibility of the international community to lift the sanctions against Afghanistan and to lift the freeze on its frozen assets.
Warning that continued economic pressure has direct and serious consequences for the Afghan people; they argued that ordinary Afghans should not bear the costs of political strife.
In this context, the envoys highlighted the importance of continuing economic and trade relations with Afghanistan as a means of improving the livelihood of its people.
They also emphasized the need to integrate Afghanistan into regional political and economic processes, suggesting that isolation would only exacerbate instability and humanitarian suffering.
The statement further called on international organizations to play a more active role, particularly in supporting the return of Afghan nationals from neighboring countries.
Participants emphasized the need to ensure conditions for a dignified, voluntary and sustainable return of refugees, an issue of increasing concern to countries in the region that host large Afghan populations.
The participants agreed that the fifth meeting of foreign ministers from Afghanistan’s neighboring countries should be held as soon as possible in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Such a meeting, they suggested, would help maintain momentum in regional coordination and provide policy-level guidance on Afghanistan-related cooperation.
In addition, the statement welcomed Pakistan’s readiness to host the second round of the Special Envoy Meeting in Islamabad in March next year.
