A delegation of the Afghan government and the Taliban representatives attended the Intra-Afghan Summit hosted by Iran on Wednesday amid a surge in fighting between the Taliban and government troops as American and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces continue to withdraw.
The summit, which was the first major dialogue in months between the two warring sides, was led by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. The Afghan government delegation was headed by former Foreign Minister Yunus Qanuni, while the Taliban was represented by Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the chief negotiator of the group’s political committee.
According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, FM Zarif said, “Returning to the intra-Afghan negotiating table and commitment to political solutions are the best choice that Afghan leaders and political movements can make.” He stressed that it was the duty of the people and leaders of Afghanistan to make “hard choices for the future of their country.”
Honored to be host of cordial & substantive dialog between senior Afghan reps.
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) July 7, 2021
As foreign forces leave Afghanistan, no impediment remains for Afghans of all political stripes to chart a peaceful & prosperous future for the next generation.
Iran stands with our Afghan brethren. pic.twitter.com/nABlJfdXaP
Zarif was also critical of the United States’ (US) role in the war-torn country and stated that it failed in Afghanistan, as more than two decades of its presence had resulted in significant damages. In this regard, the FM expressed “Tehran’s preparedness” to help achieve peace and “settle the ongoing conflicts and crises in the country.” He added that Iran was “committed” to assist in Afghanistan’s economic, political, and social development following the establishment of peace.
Also Read: 90% of American Troops Have Been Withdrawn From Afghanistan, Says Pentagon
Iran has been seeking to play a more significant role in Afghanistan and is likely to step up its efforts following the exit of the US troops from the region. In April, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Pakistani FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi called for both countries to guide the Afghan peace process through increased security cooperation and ensure the stability of Afghanistan. Last month, Zarif met his Afghan and Turkish counterparts—Mohammad Haneef Atmar and Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu—in Turkey to discuss ways to ensure “lasting peace” in Afghanistan.
Also Read: Security Situation in Afghanistan Worsens as Taliban Takes Control Over Several Districts
The decision of the US administration led by President Joe Biden to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks has encouraged the Taliban to conduct a military offensive against the Afghan government. Deborah Lyons, the United Nations envoy to Afghanistan, stated that 50 of the country’s 370 districts had been captured by the Taliban since May. Lyons warned that most of these districts surround provincial capitals, suggesting that the militants are “positioning themselves to try and take these capitals once foreign forces are fully withdrawn.” Such a situation could spell disaster for the fledgling Afghan democracy and completely derail the gains made over the years in human rights.