KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has warned that terrorist groups in Afghanistan, such as ISIS-K and al-Qaeda, pose a threat not only to the security of Afghanistan but also to the entire region.
In a quadrilateral meeting on Afghanistan with senior officials from Russia, China, and Pakistan in New York on Friday, September 27, Araghchi called for the formation of a regional “united front” to combat terrorism.
“We must step up our efforts to this end and form a united front against these destructive forces,” Araghchi said. “Our message must be clear: Terrorism has no place in Afghanistan and the broader region,” he added.
He also expressed concern about the economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, emphasizing that terrorist groups are exploiting the current situation to expand their influence.
The Iranian foreign minister criticized the U.S. and its allies, saying that they are responsible for the “disastrous” situation Afghanistan and its neighbors face today and should be held accountable.
“The U.S. and its allies left Afghanistan in 2021 with disgrace and humiliation, but they left all the chaos behind for Afghanistan and its neighbors. This fact should never be forgotten—that the U.S. and NATO are responsible for many of the problems Afghanistan and, consequently, its neighbors are facing today.”
The Taliban’s support for international terrorist organizations and regional insurgent groups, particularly their harboring of these groups in Afghanistan, continues to be a major concern for the global community, especially for neighboring countries.
Despite engaging with the Taliban, these countries closely monitor the activities of terrorist groups operating under the regime’s authority and consistently express their concerns about the situation.
The Taliban claims it will not allow Afghan soil to be used against other countries. However, numerous reports, including those from the UN, indicate that the regime is actually unable to do so due to the widespread infiltration of terrorist groups within its ranks and among its fighters.
Over the past three years, regional countries, including Iran, Pakistan, Russia, and Tajikistan, have consistently expressed concern, urging the Taliban to uphold the Doha Agreement and prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups.
Pakistan claims that the Taliban harbors, trains, and equips its enemy, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is responsible for dozens of deadly attacks in the country.
During his speech at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif once again urged the Taliban to take effective action against terrorist groups in Afghanistan.
Tajikistan, Afghanistan’s northern neighbor, is also concerned about Jamiat Ansarullah, known as the Tajik Taliban, an insurgent group operating from Afghanistan with the aim of overthrowing the Tajik government and establishing a Taliban type Islamic emirate in the country.
The Taliban, however, has consistently denied the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan. The regime claims to have eliminated ISIS-K and asserts that there is no threat from Afghan territory to any regional country.
The Taliban authorities argue that neighboring countries should find their own solutions to address terror threats, emphasizing that it is not responsible for the security failures of its neighbors.
