Iran China Russia and Pakistan hold four-party meeting on Afghanistan in New York

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his Chinese and Russian counterparts Wang Yi and Sergei Lavrov as well as Pakistani Defense Minister Muhammad Asif held a four-way meeting for the third time on the situation in Afghanistan.

 

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his Chinese and Russian counterparts, Wang Yi and Sergei Lavrov, as well as Pakistani Defense Minister Muhammad Asif held a four-way meeting for the third time on the situation in Afghanistan.

The latest meeting was held on the sidelines of the 79th sessuon of the UN General Assembly at Iran’s request and in the hotel where the Iranian foreign minister resides. The session was chaired by Araghchi himself for the first time.

In the four-way meeting, the top diplomats of Iran, China and Russia and the defense chief of Pakistan reviewed the latest situation in Afghanistan. The meeting concluded by issuing a statement consisting of 19 points.

 

In the meeting, Araghchi strongly criticized the destructive role of the US and NATO in Afghanistan and stressed that Washington and other NATO members must be held accountable for the current disastrous situation in Afghanistan.

 

He then pointed to the consequences of the US’s 20-year occupation of Afghanistan, saying the US intervention and its long-term military presence in Afghanistan has brought nothing but misery and insecurity. The US intervention in Afghanistan took the lives of a large number of innocent Afghans, damaged their health and increased terrorism, drugs, corruption, poverty and displacement.

 

Araghchi added that the US and its allies left Afghanistan in 2021 in disgrace but they left behind chaos for Afghanistan and its neighbors. It should not be forgotten that the US and NATO allies are responsible for many problems with which Afghanistan and its neighbors grapple today.

 

He further expressed serious concern about the economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, saying terrorist groups, especially Daesh offshoots, are taking advantage of the current situation to gain more influence. More than 23 million people still need help and a decrease in international aid is a big concern for neighboring countries.

 

He stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran, as a close neighbor of Afghanistan, has been severely affected by the flow of refugees and illegal immigrants. Since the withdrawal of the US in August 2021, the massive migration from Afghanistan has put enormous pressure on Iran while the nation is under illegal sanctions.

 

He noted that Iran hosts more than six million Afghans and spends over 10 billion dollars annually to meet their needs. The international community must provide continuous support to the main host countries such as Iran. That humanitarian aid for refugees must be impartial and unconditional and without political interference.

 

He also criticized the unilateral US sanctions that have adversely affected efforts to get humanitarian aid to Afghan refugees, saying this action is inhumane and illegal. The frozen assets of Afghanistan must be unlocked unconditionally, and sanctions must not hinder its economic recovery.

 

The Iranian foreign minister warned about the security situation in Afghanistan and said terrorist groups like Daesh and al-Qaeda threaten not only the people of Afghanistan but also the security of the region. The neighboring countries cannot allow terrorism and violent extremism to take root in Afghanistan.

 

He emphasized the need for cooperation with the Afghan authorities in fighting terrorism, adding, "We must step up our efforts to this end and form a united front against these destructive forces. Our message must be clear: Terrorism has no place in Afghanistan and the broader region ".

 

Araghchi also underscored the need for the common commitment to improve humanitarian, social and economic conditions in Afghanistan, noting, "We must not let political motives keep us from providing vital aid to the people of Afghanistan… our Western partners must understand that depriving an entire population of their basic needs will not promote human rights and will not improve the situation of women and girls."

 

At the end, Araghchi said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to play a more active role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and called for more cooperation on the part of the international community in fighting drugs, terrorism and tackling the issue of migrants.