RASC News Agency: Officials from neighboring countries are increasingly bewildered by the intricate political and intelligence dynamics in Afghanistan. While they express alarm over the rising influence of ISIS and Al-Qaeda, they paradoxically continue to support the very group (the Taliban) that provides sanctuary to these organizations. In a quadrilateral meeting yesterday with the foreign ministers of Russia, China, and Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Iran’s Foreign Minister stated that terrorist groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda pose threats not only to the Afghanistani populace but also to regional security. Abbas Araghchi emphasized that neighboring countries are committed to preventing the proliferation of terrorism and extremism in Afghanistan.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that the meeting concluded with a 19-point statement; however, the participating countries have yet to release this statement to the public. The Russian Foreign Ministry also noted that the participants compared their approaches to resolving Afghanistan’s challenges and stressed that there is no viable alternative to establishing relations and cooperation with the current Afghanistani authorities (the Taliban).
According to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Araghchi criticized the two-decade presence of the U.S. and NATO in Afghanistan, attributing the current predicament to the “shameful” withdrawal of the U.S. and its allies. He remarked that the U.S. and NATO left Afghanistan in 2021, creating a “chaotic legacy” for both Afghanistan and its neighbors.
He further highlighted that terrorist groups, particularly ISIS affiliates, are exploiting the prevailing situation to expand their influence. Emphasizing the necessity of collaboration with the Taliban in the fight against terrorism, Araghchi stated, “We must strengthen our cooperation in combating terrorism and form a united front against these destructive forces. Our message must be unequivocal: terrorism has no place in Afghanistan or our region.”
