Wrong policies adopted by foreign powers behind Afghanistan’s plight: Zarif

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the root cause of the current catastrophic situation in Afghanistan is the wrong policies adopted by the foreign powers that interfere in that country’s internal affairs.

According to Press TV, he made the remarks in a Sunday meeting with the UN secretary general’s special envoy on Afghanistan and Regional Issues, Jean Arnault, who is currently in Tehran to discuss the ongoing situation in the war-ravaged country with high-ranking Iranian officials.

Referring to the perilous situation in Afghanistan and increasing complexity of conditions there, Zarif said erroneous policies adopted by foreign powers are among the most important factor creating the present conditions in the country.

“The international community must take an unequivocal stance in support of the political settlement for the crisis in Afghanistan and also condemn violence and its consequences,” the top Iranian diplomat said.

He expressed Iran’s readiness to help and facilitate intra-Afghan talks to promote peace in the war-ravaged country, saying the ongoing issues would only be solved through negotiations among warring sides.

During the Sunday meeting, the UN envoy said Iran and other regional countries play a leading role in promoting peace in Afghanistan.

Arnault said no single country or a group of limited countries would be able to solve the existing issues in Afghanistan and added that only collective cooperation can prevent further escalation of the situation.

He emphasized that intra-Afghan talks are the sole solution to problems in Afghanistan and said he held important and effective talks in Tehran.

Iran envoy, senior Afghan official discuss latest developments

In a phone call on Sunday, Iran's special envoy for Afghanistan, Mohammad Ebrahim Taherian, and head of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, discussed the latest developments in the war-hit country, the peace process, and the intra-Afghan talks.

Abdullah commended Iran’s principled stances on the need for facilitating the peace process in Afghanistan, calling on Tehran to continue its support in this regard.

In a statement on Saturday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry urged all warring sides in Afghanistan to end the conflict and settle their dispute through negotiation.

SS