RASC News Agency: Fada-Hossein Maleki, a member of Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission and a former ambassador to Afghanistan, has described the Taliban’s governance as a significant threat to all countries in the region. Highlighting the Taliban’s failure to honor Afghanistan’s commitments, Maleki asserted that the Taliban lacks both a parliament and a functioning government, with their administration in complete disarray. Speaking to ILNA News Agency on Sunday, Maleki remarked that neighboring countries hold an overwhelmingly negative view of the Taliban’s rule. He stated, “When we examine the developments unfolding under the so-called Taliban governance from a regional perspective, it becomes clear that the repercussions are unfavorable for neighboring countries.”
Maleki further noted that the Taliban’s current engagement with Iran, Pakistan, and other neighboring states is unprecedented and markedly different from the conduct of previous Afghanistan administrations. He elaborated, “Afghanistan’s past governments maintained consistent dialogue and cooperation on various issues, fostering relationships that reflected the country’s significance in the region. However, since the Taliban assumed power, we have witnessed an entirely different and troubling approach.”
Addressing the issue of water rights, Maleki identified it as the most pressing challenge in Iran-Taliban relations. He lamented that the Taliban disregards the rules, agreements, and historical treaties that define bilateral relations between the two countries. Expressing concern over the Taliban’s dam construction initiatives, Maleki observed, “The construction of dams in Afghanistan raises critical questions. I firmly believe that any such undertakings should occur within the framework of mutual cooperation, which is currently nonexistent. It is unsurprising, given that the Taliban lacks a parliament, a structured government, or any semblance of administrative order.”
The former Iranian ambassador emphasized the dire implications of the Taliban’s actions for Iran. “It is deeply troubling for the Islamic Republic of Iran to witness the people of Sistan and Baluchistan enduring drought, hardship, and myriad challenges, while the Taliban allows 3 billion cubic meters of Hamoun water to flow into the salt marshes of Godzareh. Such actions defy logic, both from religious and legal perspectives,” he asserted.
Maleki added that he has raised these concerns with Iran’s president and foreign minister, confirming that the matter is a top priority on the government’s agenda. Recently, the Taliban inaugurated the Pashdan Dam in western Afghanistan. Some Iranian officials have expressed alarm over these dam-building projects, suggesting that the Taliban’s objective is to restrict water flow toward Iran. Notably, the Iranian government remains one of the Taliban’s principal regional backers, despite these growing tensions.
