The Islamic Republic of Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, India, and Russia sat in a session to examine odds of success in Afghanistan with Taliban and ISIL taking momentum once again in the ethnically diverse and highly split country. Iranian delegation was headed by Ebrahim Rahimpour, deputy-FM for Asia and Oceania Affairs and Mahdi Senaei, Iran’s Ambassador to Moscow.
Participants addressed regional approaches to Afghanistan’s security and terrorist groups active in the country along with possible measures to improve peace and national reconciliation process, especially the much-vaunted Taliban’s détente with Afghan government.
The sextet agreed that fight against extremist groups be continued and that all participants would intensify providing advice to Afghanistan to boost sustainable peace based on certain plans to restore the warring groups to normal civilian life.
Mr. Rahimpour told the meeting that Iran would help Afghanistan in line with other countries to attain peace, and emphasized all members should participate in advisory meetings; the Sextet concluded through a closing statement that the next round of meeting would be held in an Afghan neighboring country or a Central Asian country.
SH/PS