Kabulov: Regional Nations Determined to Expand Ties with Afghanistan
The Russian Special Representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov stated in a press conference following the Seventh Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan that the meeting demonstrated that all regional countries are determined to actively expand their relations with Afghanistan in all areas of mutual interest.
Kabulov added that participants of the Moscow Format are in consensus on supporting Afghanistan in various sectors.
He said: “The Moscow Format meeting showed that all regional countries are determined to actively expand their relations with the Afghan government in all areas of mutual interest. All our partners within this format agreed that we must assist the suffering people of Afghanistan in overcoming the consequences of 20 years of foreign occupation and support its development.”
In response to a question regarding the potential reopening of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, the Russian Special Representative emphasized that this would be a positive development. Kabulov added that Moscow also welcomes the reopening of embassies of other countries in Kabul.
He further stated: “This is a good and positive development if the United States is in talks with the Islamic Emirate officials to resume embassy operations. We welcome not only the reopening of the U.S. Embassy but also those of other countries willing to normalize relations with Afghanistan and provide economic and other forms of assistance.”
Meanwhile, the Director General for South Asia at Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Reza Bahrami stated in an interview with a Russian media outlet that foreign military presence in Afghanistan has been a source of instability and insecurity in the region.
Bahrami added that Iran opposes military presence in and around Afghanistan.
The Iranian official said: “As the Islamic Republic of Iran, we oppose the presence of foreign countries, especially military, in Afghanistan and its neighboring countries.”
The seventh Moscow Format meeting on Afghanistan was held on October 7th in Moscow, with representatives from more than ten countries, including Afghanistan, India, Iran, and Pakistan. In the joint statement issued by member countries, support for Afghanistan as an independent, united, and peaceful country was emphasized.
