Foreign ministers from Russia, China, Iran, and Pakistan issued a joint statement following their meeting on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, where they emphasized respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and stated that the re-establishment of foreign military bases is “not conducive to regional peace and security.”
Key Takeaways and Taliban Response
Stance on Foreign Bases:
- This unified position follows US President Donald Trump’s statement that Washington was attempting to regain Bagram air base in Afghanistan.
- Bagram Air Base was the central hub for US operations in the country during the two-decade war before the complete withdrawal of foreign forces in July 2021.
- The Taliban government rejected Trump’s demand to regain control of Bagram.
- Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban government, welcomed the four nations’ stance, asserting that Afghanistan will neither allow its territory to be used against other countries nor permit armed groups to operate from its soil.
Demand for Counter-Terrorism Action:
- The four countries urged the Taliban rulers to take “effective, concrete and verifiable actions” to fight terrorism, which includes dismantling and eliminating all terrorist groups and preventing their recruitment, fundraising, and access to weapons.
- The joint statement expressed deep concern over the threat posed by numerous terrorist groups based in Afghanistan, including ISIL, Al Qaeda, the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jaish ul Adl, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and the Majeed Brigade.
- They stressed that strengthening peace and stability in Afghanistan and countering the threats of terrorism, radicalism, and drug crime are central to their common regional interests.
- Taliban spokesperson Fitrat called the idea of “Afghanistan posing any threat to other countries baseless,” emphasizing that Kabul’s policy is built on “mutual trust, positive contacts and promotion of friendly relations.”
Jamaat-e-Islami Delegation Meeting:
- Separately, a delegation from Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan, led by JI Deputy Ameer Professor Muhammad Ibrahim, met with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi during a visit to Afghanistan, where they discussed Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.
