CHOLPON-ATA, Kyrgyzstan: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has described Afghanistan’s stability and security as one of the most important shared security and development priorities for the region, stressing that lasting peace in the country is strategically vital for all neighbouring states. Addressing the meeting of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, on Friday, Araghchi said Iran supports every initiative aimed at building a secure, stable, prosperous and terrorism-free Afghanistan, emphasising that the country’s future is closely linked to regional peace, economic cooperation and collective security. Referring to the centuries-old historical, cultural and geographical ties between Iran and Afghanistan, he said Tehran remains committed to supporting efforts that promote long-term stability, national reconciliation and the establishment of an inclusive government capable of representing all segments of Afghan society. “We support any initiative that contributes to the establishment of a secure, stable, developed and terrorism-free Afghanistan with an inclusive government,” Araghchi said, while also calling for an end to rising tensions and border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He urged both neighbouring countries to resolve their differences through dialogue, warning that continued confrontation would undermine regional stability, disrupt trade and connectivity, and create additional security challenges across Central and South Asia. His remarks came as Afghanistan remains at the centre of regional diplomatic discussions over security, counterterrorism, border management, refugee flows and economic integration. Political analyst Najibullah Bahadur said Afghanistan’s stability is no longer merely a domestic issue but a matter of regional and international strategic importance, adding that, given the security and geopolitical challenges currently facing Iran, a peaceful and stable Afghanistan has become increasingly significant for Tehran’s national interests and broader regional policy. During the same SCO meeting, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also underscored the importance of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, while reiterating Islamabad’s longstanding concerns over security threats allegedly originating from Afghan territory. “Pakistan has always desired, and continues to desire, a peaceful, stable, prosperous and regionally connected Afghanistan that lives in peace with itself and its neighbours. This is in the interest of all SCO member states and beyond. The terrorist threat emanating from Afghanistan remains one of our most serious security challenges,” Dar said. Analysts noted that while both Iran and Pakistan publicly support peace and stability in Afghanistan, the two countries continue to differ in their security priorities and approaches to border management and counterterrorism. Nevertheless, both governments acknowledge that sustainable peace in Afghanistan is essential for expanding regional trade, strengthening transport corridors, enhancing energy cooperation and ensuring long-term security across the wider region. The meeting also highlighted Afghanistan’s continued diplomatic isolation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, as no representative of the country’s current Islamic Emirate administration attended the gathering despite Afghanistan retaining observer status in the bloc. The absence of Afghan representation once again underscored the challenges surrounding the country’s international engagement, even as regional powers continue to discuss Afghanistan’s future and its implications for collective security. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation currently comprises ten full members—China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus—and remains one of Eurasia’s principal multilateral organisations focused on regional security, counterterrorism, economic cooperation and political coordination. The statements delivered during the foreign ministers’ meeting reflected a growing regional consensus that achieving lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan remains indispensable for safeguarding security, promoting development and strengthening cooperation across Central and South Asia.
Stability in Afghanistan essential for regional security: Iran
