Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has welcomed the recent agreement between Iran and the United States, expressing hope that it will be fully implemented and contribute to regional stability.

Speaking on Tuesday at Afghanistan-Central Asia Think Tank Forum in Kabul, Muttaqi said the implementation of the agreement would represent a positive development for the region.

He stressed that war and conflict harm all countries in the region, while peace and stability benefit not only regional states but the wider international community as well.

Turning to Afghanistan’s regional relations, Muttaqi said ties between Afghanistan and the countries of Central Asia, including Azerbaijan, have expanded significantly in recent years through a pragmatic, opportunity-driven, and cooperation-based approach.

He described research institutions and think tanks as more than academic bodies, saying they can serve as intellectual partners in regional diplomacy by providing practical and research-based solutions for managing disputes and strengthening regional integration.

Muttaqi expressed hope that the conference would mark the beginning of a new phase of research cooperation, fostering academic dialogue, the exchange of views, joint knowledge production, and the identification of new opportunities for collaboration across the region.

He added that Afghanistan shares deep religious, cultural, historical, and geographical ties with Central Asian countries and believes that a stable, prosperous, and secure future for the region can only be achieved through cooperation, mutual trust, regional connectivity, and a shared understanding of collective interests.

The remarks come as Kabul continues to seek closer political and economic engagement with its Central Asian neighbors, with regional cooperation increasingly viewed as a key component of economic development and long-term stability.

The United Nations Security Council on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for one year.

All 15 members of the Security Council voted in favor of the resolution, reflecting broad international support for the mission’s ongoing role in Afghanistan.

UNAMA serves as the United Nations’ principal political mission in Afghanistan and is tasked with supporting peace and stability, coordinating humanitarian assistance, promoting human rights, and engaging with Afghan authorities and international stakeholders on key political and development issues.

The extension comes as Afghanistan continues to face significant humanitarian and economic challenges.

UNAMA, established in 2002 after the fall of first IEA government, has usually been extended annually, although there was a six-month extension in 2021 to look at what changes might ​be needed after the IEA returned to power. In March this year, the mandate was extended for three months, after Washington called for a review of assistance and engagement in the country.

The Strategic Studies Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is set to host a high-level regional meeting of leading research and policy institutions from Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Azerbaijan in Kabul on 16 June 2026.

The gathering will bring together heads of strategic studies centres, researchers, and policy experts from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan. The participating institutions operate under the respective presidential administrations of their countries.

Officials say the meeting comes amid growing engagement between Afghanistan and regional states, with discussions expected to focus on regional connectivity, stability, trade, energy cooperation, transit, and investment. Participants will also review current cooperation frameworks and develop practical recommendations for future collaboration.

A key aspect of the forum is the direct exchange of views between research institutions on shared regional challenges and opportunities, aimed at strengthening coordination and mutual understanding.

The meeting will be officially inaugurated by Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi.

Organisers say the forum reflects Afghanistan’s balanced, economy-oriented foreign policy and is expected to contribute to greater trust-building, expanded economic and transit cooperation, and long-term stability and shared prosperity across the region.

The initiative underscores Afghanistan’s continued role as an active participant in advancing regional connectivity and economic integration.