Taliban Absence from Tehran Meeting Draws Sharper Criticism.
During the regional meeting in Tehran, Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, openly criticized the current situation in Afghanistan, implicitly targeting the Taliban’s poor governance.
He stated that a population that has endured decades of suffering deserves conditions far better than those currently prevailing.
Referring to a joint assessment by participating countries, he stressed that terrorism originating from Afghanistan reflects the Taliban’s inability to ensure security and stability.
The meeting was held on Sunday in Tehran with the participation of special envoys from Afghanistan’s neighboring countries and Russia.
The Pakistani delegation was led by Mohammad Sadiq and included Mudassir Tipu and Obaidur Rahman Nizami, Pakistan’s ambassadors to Tehran and Kabul. The session opened with remarks by Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi.
Pakistan further emphasized that stability in Afghanistan is a prerequisite for regional security and reiterated its support for regional efforts aimed at peace and development—remarks that implicitly questioned the Taliban’s performance.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei warned that tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan could have direct consequences for Iran.
While respecting the Taliban’s decision not to attend the Tehran meeting, he noted that their absence represented a missed opportunity for constructive dialogue and reducing regional misunderstandings.
