KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Iran will host a regional meeting on Afghanistan next week, with special envoys from several neighboring and regional countries expected to participate, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced on Friday.
Esmail Baghaei, the ministry spokesperson, told Iranian media that special representatives from Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, China, and Russia are expected to attend the meeting in Tehran. He did not clarify whether a representative of the Taliban would participate, nor did he provide the exact date of the gathering.
Baghaei said the meeting is the outcome of consultations with regional stakeholders and expressed hope that it would strengthen cooperation and ease tensions in the region.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran attaches fundamental importance to security and stability in its neighborhood and, in this regard, will spare no effort to reduce tensions among regional countries and strengthen mutual understanding,” Baghaei said.
The announcement follows remarks by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who said Tehran is working to convene the meeting after two rounds of unsuccessful talks between the Taliban and Pakistan in Istanbul. Araghchi emphasized that Iran has been actively engaged in “promoting stability and reconciliation” between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban remain high, particularly over cross-border militancy involving the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban of allowing TTP fighters to operate from Afghan territory, an allegation the Taliban deny.
Relations between the two neighbors reached their lowest point in October following a week-long border clash, during which Pakistan carried out airstrikes on multiple targets in Afghanistan, killing dozens, including civilians. A ceasefire was later brokered in Doha, but tensions remain unresolved.
Previous talks, including two rounds in Istanbul and another in Saudi Arabia, have failed to produce a permanent agreement. Pakistan has reportedly sought a written guarantee from the Taliban to prevent TTP from using Afghan territory for attacks, but the Taliban have not agreed to this demand.
