Importance of Afghanistan's Neighbors' Meeting in Tehran

By: Mohsen Pakaein

TEHRAN, (MNA) – As Afghanistan’s crises increasingly affect the wider region, Tehran’s first purely regional meeting of Kabul's neighbors signals a clear move toward regional solutions and collective responsibility for stability.

A regional meeting of Afghanistan's neighboring countries was held with the presence of representatives from Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, China, and Russia. This is the first time that the Afghanistan Neighbors' Meeting is being held regionally. Previously, it was in the 2+6 format, meaning with the presence of neighbors and representatives of the United States and Russia, but in the current meeting, trans-regional countries do not have a place in this meeting.

The Islamic Republic of Iran attaches fundamental importance to security and stability in our country's neighborhood and spares no effort to reduce tensions between regional countries and strengthen understanding between them.

Iran believes that the stability and development of Afghanistan is not only a human necessity but also a strategic imperative for the entire region.

Today, Afghanistan is facing numerous security challenges; on the one hand, the war with Pakistan, the presence of ISIL in the northern parts of the country, which is a threat to Central Asian countries, and on the other hand, the transportation of drugs to neighboring countries, etc., have made the Afghan issue not limited to Afghanistan alone; the effects of instability can also affect regional security.

Iran's initiative in holding a regional meeting of Afghanistan's neighboring countries at this juncture was a very correct initiative because we believe that regional challenges will be resolved through constructive dialogue and based on non-interference in the internal affairs of countries and mutual respect.

Holding this meeting is not considered interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs because it is related to establishing security in the region.

The fact that the Taliban did not participate in this meeting despite the invitation is a decision that concerns them, but if the Taliban had attended this meeting, it would definitely have been in their interest.

Afghanistan's neighboring countries are trying in good faith to work for regional integration within the framework of international standards and help promote security and stability in and around Afghanistan. These measures will prevent foreign interference and influence.

The Tehran talks can continue in the future, and we hope that the government in Afghanistan will conclude that these measures and initiatives are effective in the region.