Pakistan on Sunday called on Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to eliminate all militant groups operating from Afghan soil. At the same time, Iran emphasised regional cooperation over foreign intervention at a multinational meeting in Tehran focused on Afghanistan’s security and stability.
The meeting brought together special representatives from Pakistan, China, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Although the Taliban were formally invited, they declined to attend, according to Iranian and Taliban officials.
Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, warned that terrorism originating from Afghan territory remained a serious regional challenge. He said lasting stability in Afghanistan depended on the removal of all terrorist elements, which would help rebuild trust with neighbouring countries and unlock economic opportunities.
“The continued threat of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil is a big challenge for the region,” Sadiq said, adding that the foremost step towards easing Afghanistan’s suffering would be to rid its territory “indiscriminately of all types of terrorists”. He later said the Afghan people deserved peace, stability and meaningful regional engagement.
The forum, initiated by Pakistan in September 2021 after the Taliban takeover, has struggled to achieve consensus. Former Pakistani ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Khan said the group had originally aimed to coordinate policies, including possible joint recognition of the Taliban government, but lacked progress due to Kabul’s limited cooperation.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the meeting that Afghanistan’s stability depended on integration into regional political and economic frameworks rather than external involvement. He said past “imported solutions” had failed and stressed that neighbouring countries were best placed to address Afghanistan’s challenges.
Araghchi highlighted Afghanistan’s strategic position linking Central, South and West Asia, saying its stability was both a humanitarian necessity and a regional strategic imperative. He called for confidence-building measures and broader cooperation in trade, transport and energy.
Iran’s foreign ministry said Kabul’s absence was respected but regrettable, noting that regional dialogue was essential given shared borders and security concerns. Pakistani and Iranian officials later held bilateral talks, reaffirming their commitment to regional peace and stability.
