Pakistan says terrorism from Afghanistan poses major challenge to region
ISLAMABAD:
Senior officials from Afghanistan’s immediate neighbors, along with Russia, met in Tehran on Sunday to discuss the current situation in Afghanistan.
However, diplomatic sources said, the high-profile meeting ended without a joint statement, highlighting continuing divisions over the Taliban regime’s approach to regional security.
Hosted by Iran, the meeting of special representatives of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries plus Russia brought together envoys from Pakistan, China, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
However, the Taliban regime rejected the invitation, further complicating efforts to coordinate a unified regional strategy.
While the discussions reportedly concluded with consensus on one point that terrorism emanating from Afghan soil remains a major threat to the region, participants were unable to reconcile their positions on other issues, preventing the issuance of a joint statement.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi opened the meeting with a keynote address, underscoring the strategic importance of Afghanistan’s stability for regional security.
“Afghanistan’s security is directly linked to the interests of all neighboring countries,” he said. Araghchi stressed that regular dialogue mechanisms between Afghanistan’s neighbors are essential to avoid misunderstandings, coordinate policies and promote economic, border and humanitarian cooperation.
“No extra-regional plan can solve regional problems and crises,” he added, warning against dependence on external actors to achieve stability.
Araghchi also highlighted Afghanistan’s economic potential, noting that improved conditions could allow the country to serve as a vital corridor linking Central and South Asia, as well as West Asia and the Asia-Pacific, facilitating trade and energy transit.
Before the Tehran meeting, Iran facilitated talks between anti-Taliban Afghan political groups, which culminated in the declaration of “National Solidarity of the Political Parties and Movements of Afghanistan.”
Political factions urged a resolution of the Afghan crisis through dialogue, pointing out the limits of the Taliban’s engagement in multilateral diplomacy.
Pakistan, represented by its Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, made its position clear during the meeting.
In his statement, Sadiq stressed that terrorism from Afghanistan continues to pose a “major challenge for the region.”
He stressed that the Afghan people have already endured enough hardships and that the de facto Taliban authorities must take concrete measures to improve conditions.
“The most important step in this regard would be to rid Afghan soil indiscriminately of all types of terrorists,” Sadiq said.
He added that only an Afghanistan free of terrorist networks could inspire confidence among neighbors and enable meaningful engagement, helping the country realize its “immense economic and connectivity potential.”
The Pakistani delegation also highlighted Islamabad’s security concerns and its desire to promote peace, development and stability in the region.
Ambassador Sadiq, along with Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul, Obaid Nizamani, participated in the talks, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to regional cooperation despite strained ties with the Taliban.
“The people of Afghanistan deserve better,” Sadiq said, emphasizing that any meaningful engagement with Kabul depends on the Taliban’s willingness to take decisive action against terrorist groups operating within its territory.
Pakistan’s stance reflects both its immediate security interests and its broader regional ambitions for a stable and connected Afghanistan.
Iranian officials also held bilateral talks with Pakistani representatives. On a courtesy visit, Ambassador Sadiq met Foreign Minister Araghchi, who reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to deepening ties with Islamabad.
The discussions reportedly reflected growing coordination between the two countries, particularly regarding Afghanistan, as well as mutual interest in expanding trade, energy cooperation and regional stability.
While the meeting allowed for frank dialogue, the absence of a joint statement underscores continued divergences between Afghanistan’s neighbors over the Taliban and the broader approach to the Afghan crisis.
Observers noted that the Taliban’s refusal to participate has complicated consensus-building and limited the meeting’s immediate diplomatic impact.
Analysts suggest that Pakistan’s emphasis on tackling terrorism reflects Islamabad’s current security concerns, particularly cross-border attacks and militant networks using Afghan territory as a safe haven.
Meanwhile, China, Russia and their Central Asian neighbors are reportedly focused on broader regional stability and economic integration, highlighting different priorities among stakeholders.
Iran’s role as host underscores Tehran’s desire to position itself as a mediator in Afghan affairs, although the lack of a joint outcome demonstrates the limits of such regional initiatives when key actors, particularly the Taliban, are unwilling or unable to participate.
Despite the absence of a formal communiqué, the Tehran meeting signaled the willingness among regional actors to maintain dialogue, exchange opinions and coordinate on security and development issues. Pakistan’s strong messages on terrorism and the need to hold the Taliban accountable are likely to remain central in future regional discussions.
