Pakistan and Iran keen to help resolve Afghanistan challenges

The two important neighbors of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran have expressed readiness to help resolve the current challenges in Afghanistan and called for a regional initiative to reach the goal.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian in a meeting with Asif Ali Khan Durrani, the special representative of Pakistan for Afghanistan affairs, underlined the need to support regional initiatives aimed at settling problems in their neighbor based on the framework of neighborliness.

Indeed, there is no doubt that Iran and Pakistan can help Afghanistan a lot. Abdollahian had put light on the influential role of Iran and Pakistan in developments not only in Afghanistan but in the entire region. The countries have also agreed for more discussions and consultation between Tehran and Islamabad as well to further enhance peace in the region, especially in Afghanistan.

They also spoke about other issues and challenges gripping the Central Asian country, where Durrani in his part agreed with Abdollahian and reiterated Pakistan’s strong resolve to help bring peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The meeting comes as Taliban fought with both

The meeting came when the Taliban fought with both the countries. On May 27, the border guards of Iran and Afghanistan exchanged gunfire on the bordering areas in which two Iranian forces and one Taliban soldier were killed. The fighting erupted with tension between the neighbors over water rights. At the same time, both sides accused each other of firing first.

Iran border officials said that a border outpost in southeastern Iran had come under heavy attack by the Taliban, in which the Iranian sides responded, prompting heavy clashes.

Iran accused Taliban forces of initiating the attack in contravention of international law and principles of good neighborliness.

However, the Taliban accused Iran border guards of firing first. A Taliban spokesman for the ministry of interior said that Iranian border forces fired toward Afghanistan, which was met with a counter-reaction. However, the situation was immediately brought under control and the forces of both sides ceased firing, and the Taliban spokesman said that Afghanistan doesn’t want to fight with its neighbors.

Afghanistan and Pakistan border closed

The meeting of the Pakistani envoy with Iranian officials to discuss Afghanistan, came at a time when the border remained close between the two neighbors.

Officials from both sides have blamed trade over the closure of the key border, and the Taliban has strongly reacted to the statement issued by the Pakistan foreign ministry over closure of the Torkham border crossing. Torkham gate is considered as one of the most important points of transit for travelers and goods between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Trucks loaded with supplies to leave for Afghanistan are seen stranded at Michni post, after the main Pakistan-Afghan border crossing closed after clashes in Torkham on September 7, 2023 [Reuters]

Pakistan foreign ministry accused the Taliban for building unlawful structures and indiscriminate and unprovoked firing.

“Pakistan cannot accept the construction of any structures by the Interim Afghan Government inside its territory since these violate its sovereignty. On the 6th of September, instead of a peaceful resolution, Afghan troops resorted to indiscriminate firing, targeting Pakistan military posts, damaging the infrastructure at the Torkham Border Terminal, and putting the lives of both Pakistani and Afghan civilians at risk, when they were stopped from erecting such unlawful structures,” the statement read.

Pakistan wishes peace and amity between Kabul and Islamabad

Pakistan said that such unprovoked and indiscriminate firing on Pakistani border posts cannot be justified under any circumstances. “The unprovoked firing by Afghan border security forces invariably emboldens the terrorist elements. These elements are enjoying sanctuaries inside Afghanistan as confirmed by the UN Security Council’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team in its latest report,” it added.

However, Pakistan said it always wishes the border with Afghanistan to be a border of peace and amity between the two countries. “We have welcomed our Afghan brothers and sisters with open arms for decades. Pakistan has continued to exercise restraint and prioritize dialogue in the face of persistent unwarranted provocations by Afghan troops deployed along the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border. Temporary closures take place only in extreme cases such as the 6th September 2023 incident on the border or when Afghan soil is used to launch terror attacks inside Pakistan.”

Still there is chance to resolve all bilateral matters peacefully

However, there is still a chance for the both sides to resolve all bilateral issues and concerns through constructive dialogue so that both countries can reap the dividends of economic connectivity and resultant prosperity.

The Taliban, who had previously ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, once again took power in August 2021 after chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan that resulted in the collapse of the republic system the US supported for 20 years.

However, the US had immediately seized the Afghan assets and cut off Afghanistan’s access to international aid. The banking system also stopped functioning due to pressure by the US. Both the International Monetary Fund and World Bank have joined the US, triggering millions of Afghans into poverty and causing the world’s worst humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.