Iran committed to promoting peace in neighboring Afghanistan: Envoy

Iran's permanent ambassador to the United Nations has expressed the country’s resolve to cooperate in efforts aimed at bringing lasting peace to neighboring Afghanistan.

Speaking at a UN Security Council briefing on Afghanistan in New York on Wednesday, Amir Saied Iravani said that international engagements should not only seek a normalization of ties with the ruling Taliban administration or its recognition, but also contribute to improving the situation for people in the Central Asian country.

“Iran remains steadfast in its commitment to close collaboration with neighboring countries, relevant partners, and the United Nations to promote lasting peace, security, and stability in Afghanistan,” he said.

“We hope that the de facto authorities will fulfill their international obligations, particularly in upholding their obligations to the neighbors.”

The envoy also pointed to the severe threat to Afghanistan and its neighbors posed by the persistent presence of the groups affiliated to Daesh and al-Qaeda terrorist groups.

He further said that Iran has maintained its “active engagement” with the ruling faction in Kabul as a directly impacted neighbor, which is dealing with the repercussions of the situation in Afghanistan and hosting millions of Afghans.

“This engagement was conducted both bilaterally and through neighboring and regional mechanisms…, aiming to enhance and improve the humanitarian situation and facilitate Afghanistan's economic recovery,” Iravani added.

Iran urges more cooperation by neighbors to help Afghanistan, calls for preventing US return

A senior Iranian official has emphasized on the need to prevent the US from re-entering Afghanistan, urging the neighboring countries to enhance cooperation to help the country resolve its issues without relying on outside powers.

He also emphasized the need for impartial humanitarian aid and the lifting of sanctions to support Afghanistan’s economic recovery. 

Meanwhile, the Iranian envoy criticized Afghan authorities for not taking significant steps to "achieve genuine ethnic and political inclusion" in the country and imposing severe restrictions on women and girls as well as their access to education.

Certain members of the US-led NATO military alliance, especially those accountable for the current situation in Afghanistan, should fulfill their responsibilities to the nation, he noted. Not doing so would be “unfair and counterproductive.”

The Taliban stormed back to power in August 2021 after making sweeping advances across the country, which triggered a messy withdrawal by the United States-led foreign forces as well as the rapid collapse of the country's security forces.

The US invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, despite the fact that no Afghan national was involved in the attacks. Hundreds of thousands of Afghans died in the US war of aggression on the country.

After its withdrawal, Washington imposed sanctions on Afghanistan and blocked its assets.

Foreign aid has also declined dramatically since then and the country's key central bank assets have been seized by the United States, compounding one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

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