PNN – The Islamabad Post wrote that Iran is preparing to host an important regional meeting next week, focused on mediating between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, the Islamabad Post reported that despite several rounds of talks hosted by non-neighboring countries, tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have continued. It wrote that the Islamic Republic of Iran, in an effort to strengthen regional stability and help resolve current tensions between its two neighbors, will host a significant meeting in Tehran next week with delegations from neighboring countries.
The report added that senior Iranian officials have been actively engaging with both sides in recent weeks. Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, has spoken with his Pakistani and Afghan counterparts and offered Tehran’s readiness to help ease tensions.
Citing diplomatic sources, the Islamabad Post wrote that this major meeting is likely to be held on December 16 or 17 in Tehran. The meeting follows previous rounds of talks in Doha, Istanbul, and Jeddah, none of which achieved success.
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According to the Pakistani outlet, what makes the upcoming Tehran meeting notable is the expected participation of China and Russia, indicating that major regional powers view escalating tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban as a threat to broader regional stability.
The report continued: Islamabad has publicly welcomed the proposal. Tahir Hussain Andrabi, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Islamabad appreciates Iran’s mediating role.
He emphasized that Iran is a brotherly and friendly country, and Pakistan has always favored peaceful solutions through dialogue and diplomacy.
The Islamabad Post added that Iran’s seriousness in pursuing tension reduction between the two neighbors was once again evident after the recent visit of Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, to Islamabad, during which regional security issues and developments in Pakistan and Afghanistan were the main focus of discussions.
According to the report, experts believe that as a neighbor of both Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran is in a better position to play a more influential role compared to previous mediators such as Turkey, Qatar, or Saudi Arabia.
The Pakistani newspaper added that the possible participation of Russia and China—both increasingly concerned about the spillover of tensions across borders—raises expectations that the Tehran meeting may offer a more serious effort to de-escalate the situation.