Iran urges Afghanistan and Pakistan to talk, offering Tehran's assistance

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their differences through dialogue, offering Tehran’s assistance to facilitate understanding between its eastern neighbours.

"In the holy month of Ramadan, the month of restraint and strengthening solidarity in the Islamic world, it is appropriate for Afghanistan and Pakistan to manage and resolve existing differences within the framework of good neighbourliness and through dialogue,” he said on X.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to provide any assistance in facilitating dialogue and strengthening understanding and cooperation between the two countries,” state IRNA news agency quoted Iran’s top diplomat.

Afghanistan and Pakistan resumed armed clashes on their shared border earlier in the week for the second time since October last year.

The renewed conflict was triggered following Pakistan’s air raids on Afghanistan’s soil, during which Islamabad said it targeted camps of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan group, killing 80 militants.

The Afghan government condemned Pakistan's attacks, saying that dozens of civilians were killed in the operation.

Iran does not recognise the Taliban-led government in neighbouring Afghanistan but has maintained its diplomatic presence in the capital, Kabul and exchanged delegations on bilateral issues.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told a weekly press briefing on Monday (23 February) that Iran will announce its decision on recognising the Taliban government once it has made a final decision.

“Escalation of tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan will have repercussions beyond their borders,” the Iranian diplomat said.

Since October, Islamabad and the Taliban-led Interim Government have clashed over militant groups, which Pakistan says are operating terrorist attacks from Afghanistan.

• Pakistan declares ‘open war’ with Afghanistan, as airstrikes in Kabul escalate tensions
• Taliban official tells UN Pakistan airstrikes on Afghanistan targeted civilians
• UN reports 13 civilians killed in Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan

In the meantime, Iran has stepped up its efforts to help resolve tensions between the two countries.

Last year, Tehran offered mediation between Islamabad and Kabul and hosted a meeting of Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries, and included Russia. However, authorities in Afghanistan decided to skip the key event.

Copied