Russia has offered to mediate between Pakistan and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to help ease rising border tensions.The proposal was announced by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, who said regional stability remains a key priority for Russia and the international community. She urged both sides to show restraint and resolve their disputes through dialogue.

Zakharova noted that Pakistan and the IEA are important partners for Russia, and a mediated process could pave the way for long-term stability. Moscow’s offer follows earlier mediation efforts by Qatar and Turkey, which had led to a temporary ceasefire before recent talks in Istanbul failed to produce tangible results.

Warning that continued tensions threaten broader regional security, Zakharova called on both countries to stay engaged in negotiations and avoid steps that could intensify the situation. Dialogue, she stressed, remains the only sustainable path forward.

Russia’s announcement comes as other regional powers make similar overtures. Iran’s foreign minister recently voiced concern and offered to facilitate talks, while Turkey is preparing to dispatch a high-level delegation to Pakistan for further discussions.

Analysts say Russia’s entry into the mediation efforts could inject new momentum into the stalled process. With multiple international actors now offering support, Pakistan and Afghanistan may have more space to move toward a peaceful resolution.

Saniullah Farhamand, the Islamic Emirate’s ambassador to Turkey, met on Friday with Mehmet Aktaş, Turkey’s Deputy Minister of Interior, to discuss the expansion of relations between Kabul and Ankara.

The Afghan Embassy in Turkey said in a statement that Farhamand and Aktaş, during this meeting, discussed bilateral cooperation in political, cultural, and consular fields, as well as issues related to Afghan migrants residing in Turkey.

Turkey is one of the countries that maintains close relations with the Islamic Emirate. It has also mediated alongside Qatar in efforts to resolve tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, hosting two rounds of negotiations between Afghan and Pakistani delegations.

Meanwhile, analysts consider the increased diplomatic cooperation between Kabul and Ankara important for expanding interactions between the two countries.

This meeting comes at a time when Turkey has recently intensified the detention of Afghan refugees and their transfer back to Afghanistan.

In the latest incident, Turkish media reported that the country’s coast guard detained 24 Afghan refugees, including 15 children, and sent them to a foreign nationals’ return center for transfer to Afghanistan.

The Turkish Coast Guard said these individuals were identified in a dangerous inflatable boat off the coast of Ayvacık as they attempted to travel illegally to Europe.

Recently, Turkey’s Ministry of Interior announced that from January to October of this year, 30,099 Afghan refugees had been identified and detained in various cities across the country.

Turkey has also closed irregular migration routes to Europe and does not permit undocumented migrants to leave through illegal pathways.

Nooruddin Azizi, Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, announced during his visit to Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province that the Chabahar port transit route is secure, reliable, and open for trade, and that economic cooperation and joint investment with Iran will be expanded.

Speaking at the Iran-Afghanistan Joint Economic Meeting on Saturday, Azizi said that trade capacity between the two countries has increased. He added that establishing competitive routes with regional ports, including Karachi, is a priority to reduce costs and facilitate commerce.

Azizi emphasized that economic development remains the cornerstone of the Afghan government’s agenda. Both domestic and foreign investment are fully supported, he said, noting that initiatives in the Chabahar Free Zone and transit projects are expected to boost employment and trade growth.

The minister also highlighted Afghanistan’s commitment to constructive engagement with all neighboring and Muslim-majority countries, stressing that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and mutual respect to ensure regional stability.

Addressing the country’s ongoing drought, Azizi described the situation as “critical” and stressed that Afghanistan has maintained water flow to Iran in accordance with principles of good neighborliness, continuing close coordination with Iranian authorities to manage shared water resources responsibly.