RASC News Agency: The “Jomhouri Eslami” newspaper has urged Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to confront the escalating threat posed by the Taliban, labeling them a dangerous phenomenon. The newspaper asserts that Iran should stand in solidarity with the Afghanistani people and only recognize a government established through free elections and the will of the Afghanistani populace.
Published on Wednesday, August 14, the article states: “One of the critical expectations from the 14th government is to utilize diplomatic leverage to counter the Taliban threat.” The article, titled, “The 14th Government and the People of Afghanistan,” outlines measures such as cutting privileges and withdrawing resources and facilities as potential diplomatic tools. The piece emphasizes that the Taliban should be dealt with within the framework of the law, akin to how one would engage with an illegal and unrecognized government.
The Taliban are referred to as a “Takfiri-Terrorist Group” in the article, with the claim that they have taken the Afghanistani people hostage. The writer recalls that in 1996, the Taliban established their desired government through a “bloodbath” and maintained their rule for five years. The article suggests that after the United States achieved its objectives in the region, it concluded that rather than maintaining a “direct occupation of Afghanistan,” it would hand the country over to the “Takfiri-Terrorist Taliban” and indirectly support the continuation of their rule.
The article also implies that “the Taliban have fully adhered to their commitments to the U.S. government, and according to UN reports, Afghanistan has now become the epicenter of terrorism in the region.” The author characterizes the Taliban as a “self-proclaimed government,” stressing that the group adheres to none of the democratic principles or the standards set forth by the United Nations and enshrined in the UN Charter. The article further criticizes the Taliban for seizing control of Afghanistan’s fate for three years without holding elections, without a constitution, and without adhering to international regulations, all while continuing to violate the rights of the Afghanistani people with full support from the state.
The newspaper describes the engagement with the Taliban as both “clumsy” and concerning, warning that this group poses a “significant danger” to both the region and Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran does not officially recognize the Taliban, yet it maintains extensive diplomatic and economic relations with the group and has handed over the Afghanistan embassies and consulates in Iran to the Taliban.
