Pakistan Urges Serious Action on Security Concerns at Tehran Meeting on Afghanistan

At a regional meeting in Tehran focused on Afghanistan, Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan emphasized the urgent need to address his country’s security concerns, particularly those related to terrorism. Mohammad Sadiq Khan stated that Islamabad seeks peace, development, and lasting stability in the region.

The meeting brought together special envoys from Afghanistan’s neighboring countries—Russia, Pakistan, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. However, the Taliban administration declined to participate, a move analysts say could hinder regional efforts to coordinate on Afghanistan’s pressing security and political challenges.

During the same meeting, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressed that the security and stability of neighboring countries are directly linked to peace and stability in Afghanistan. He highlighted the need to establish regular and lasting mechanisms for dialogue among Afghanistan’s neighbors to manage shared challenges.

The gathering comes at a time when Afghanistan continues to grapple with significant security and political concerns across the region, and the Taliban’s absence from such talks raises questions about their commitment to regional engagement and responsiveness to neighbors’ concerns.