Foreign ministers of Iran, China, Russia and Pakistan in a meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Thursday discussed the situation in Afghanistan and called on the Taliban to form an inclusive government and lift restrictions against women and ethnic minorities.
According to the Russian News Agency, TASS, “The ministers called on the Afghan authorities to form an inclusive government involving all ethnic groups and political institutions and lift all restrictive measures against women and national minorities,”
“Russia, Iran, China and Pakistan also urged the Afghan authorities to pursue a friendly foreign policy, respect international law and coexist in harmony with all countries.” The News Agency added.
Addressing the meeting, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amirabdollahian, suggested the model of joint regional cooperation between the four countries and said Afghanistan’s neighbors are more concerned about the future of the country than the West.
“Afghanistan is today in need of regional cooperation instead of the intervention of the West, America and the actors that have led this important country of the region to poverty and instability,” the Iran Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement.
The ministers further urged the Taliban to take observable and verifiable steps towards their commitments to eliminate terrorist groups, including ISKP, Al-Qaeda, East Turkestan Islamic Movement, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Balochistan Liberation Army and Jaish-ul-Adl based in Afghanistan.
The quartet called on the US and its allies to take responsibility for the current situation in Afghanistan and immediately lift unilateral sanctions against the country, while also urging the international community to provide humanitarian aid and support sustainable development efforts.
“The US and its allies have a responsibility both as occupiers in their performance over the past two decades and as members of the United Nations to be answerable over the situation gripping Afghanistan,” Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed.
