Iran reiterates call for inclusive government in Afghanistan

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has emphasized Tehran’s support for the establishment of a secure and stable Afghanistan with an inclusive government.

Speaking on Friday at the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Kyrgyzstan, Araghchi said developments in Afghanistan remain one of the most important shared security and development issues within the SCO framework.

He added that stability and security in Afghanistan are strategically important not only for the Afghan people but also for all countries in the region, stressing that addressing challenges such as terrorism, extremism, transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, illegal migration, and humanitarian crises requires close cooperation among regional countries.

The Iranian foreign minister said that, given Tehran’s deep historical, cultural, and civilizational ties with the people of Afghanistan, and based on principles of respect for national sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of countries, Iran supports any initiative that leads to the creation of “a secure, stable, developed Afghanistan free of terrorism and with an inclusive government.”

Araghchi also called for an end to tensions and conflicts between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Iranian officials have repeatedly called for the establishment of an inclusive government in Afghanistan.

The Islamic Emirate, however, has said that the current government is inclusive.