Iran calls for regional cooperation on Afghanistan’s future
Russia to keep helping Afghanistan
Iran’s special envoy for Afghanistan highlighted the necessity of increased cooperation among neighboring countries to help resolve the issues in Afghanistan without relying on foreign states.
Hassan Kazemi Qomi made the remarks addressing a meeting on the developments in Afghanistan in the Russian city of Kazan on Friday, IRNA reported.
He criticized the US interventions in the region and deemed its policies in Afghanistan over the past years as incorrect.
The Iranian envoy pointed out that 20 years of continuous and unjustified occupation by the United States and its allies, along with the creation of foreign-backed fronts, are not in line with the national interests of Afghanistan.
He expressed hope that the caretaker government of Afghanistan would implement a neighboring policy that is based on mutual benefit and harm prevention, coupled with consultations with neighboring countries.
Representatives from Taliban and 15 countries gathered in Kazan for talks on regional threats and creating an inclusive government, TASS reported.
President Vladimir Putin’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov attended the gathering and said Russia is inclined to keep helping Afghanistan independently through the World Food Program of the UN.
A letter from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was read at the talks, accusing Western countries of “complete failure” in Afghanistan, saying they should “bear the primary burden of rebuilding the country.”
The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in mid-August 2021 as the US and NATO troops were in the final weeks of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war.