Iranian President Urges Region to Help Form Inclusive Government in Afghanistan

In a meeting with Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi, held in Tehran on Thursday, President Raisi said the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan could be a turning point for all Afghan groups and ethnicities in their effort to establish peace, security and stability in the country.

“There is no doubt that the US presence in Afghanistan and the region does not lead to security. Therefore, regional countries must join hands and help various groups in Afghanistan form an inclusive and cooperative government,” the Iranian president added.

He also noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran seeks the helping hand of regional countries to establish peace and security in the region, without relying on foreign interference.

“The presence of the United States and foreigners in the region not only does not lead to security, but also creates (more) problems,” President Raisi said.

He maintained that regional countries, in particular Iran and Pakistan, can pave the way for different ethnicities and groups in Afghanistan to cooperate with each other to bring peace to their country and shape their own destiny.

The president further stressed that paternalism and playing the big brother role in Afghanistan was a failed approach the US pursued in the war-torn country, noting such an approach would not lead to peace and stability in Afghanistan.

He finally made it clear that the neighboring states should only play the role of a facilitator in Afghanistan, so that an all-inclusive government could be formed in the country.

For his part, Qureshi called Tehran-Islamabad relations “historic” and “deep,” highlighting the two countries’ similar positions on many regional and international issues.

“Pakistan seeks to deepen and strengthen the relations between the two countries in various economic, political and regional fields, and we are determined to further upgrade the level of our ties,” the foreign minister said.

Qureshi also conveyed Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s invitation for President Raisi to visit Pakistan.

Highlighting the importance of cooperation and coordination between Tehran and Islamabad to reach sustainable stability and peace in Afghanistan, Qureshi said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is a major player in regional developments. Therefore, we believe that by working together we can have positive and useful cooperation in establishing and strengthening peace and stability in the region, especially in Afghanistan.”

The Pakistani foreign minister arrived in Tehran on Thursday afternoon to discuss the latest developments in Afghanistan as well as other regional and bilateral issues, Press TV reported.

He met with his new Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, soon after his arrival.