The fourth regional meeting on Afghanistan, titled the Meeting of Special Representatives of Afghanistan’s Neighbors plus Russia, was held in Tehran, bringing together envoys from countries bordering Afghanistan as well as Russia to discuss security, economic, and humanitarian developments in the country.

Opening the meeting, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi described Afghanistan as a vital connecting hub linking Central Asia, West Asia, and South Asia, stressing that the country’s stability and development are of strategic importance for the entire region.

“Afghanistan’s geoeconomic position places it at the center of connectivity networks linking Central, West, and South Asia. For this reason, its stability and development are not only a humanitarian necessity but a strategic imperative for the whole region,” Araghchi said.

“The past decades have clearly shown that Afghanistan’s security, development, and prosperity are directly linked to the interests of all its neighbors.”

Araghchi emphasized the need for Afghanistan’s comprehensive integration into regional frameworks, arguing that recent regional experiences have demonstrated the failure of foreign-imposed solutions to deliver lasting stability. He underlined the importance of establishing a regular and institutionalized mechanism for dialogue among Afghanistan’s neighboring countries.

“The countries present at this meeting bear greater moral, humanitarian, and regional responsibility than any other party to support the people of Afghanistan,” he said. “Establishing a regular dialogue framework among Afghanistan’s neighbors is a strategic necessity.”

The Iranian foreign minister added that such meetings play a key role in preventing misunderstandings and aligning positions on border management, economic cooperation, and humanitarian assistance, ultimately helping to reduce tensions and strengthen constructive regional cooperation.

“These meetings not only prevent misunderstandings but also enable policy coordination on economic, border, and humanitarian matters, strengthen mutual understanding, and provide a foundation for reducing tensions and enhancing constructive cooperation among neighboring countries,” Araghchi noted.

Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq Khan, also addressed the gathering, reiterating Islamabad’s concerns over terrorism and emphasizing Pakistan’s desire to promote peace, development, and security across the region.

The meeting was attended by special envoys from Afghanistan’s neighboring countries, including Russia.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan announced a day earlier that it had received an invitation to attend the meeting but opted not to participate. (ILKHA)