Do Not Run Away From International Obligations, Tehran Tells Taliban
Rasoul Mousavi, Iran’s assistant foreign minister, reacted to Amir Khan Muttaqi’s implicit criticism of Iran’s desire to establish an inclusive government in Afghanistan.
Rasoul Mousavi, Iran’s assistant foreign minister, reacted to Amir Khan Muttaqi’s implicit criticism of Iran’s desire to establish an inclusive government in Afghanistan.
Mousavi posted on social media platform X and stated, "You cannot escape international responsibilities by making the issue bilateral and personal.”
On Wednesday, Taliban’s foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, while responding to those countries which are pressurising the Taliban to form an inclusive government, said that the group has fewer prisoners than executions carried out in such countries.
Addressing the Taliban’s Ulema gathering in Kabul on Wednesday, Muttaqi sarcastically questioned those countries and asked, “Do you have an inclusive government?”
“Thousands of people have disappeared in your country, but no one dares to ask about it," he continued.
The foreign minister of the Taliban did not name any country in his speech, but the Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the countries which has been accused of cracking down on its opponents and executing them and has repeatedly asked the Taliban to form an inclusive government.
Reposting the video clip of Muttaqi’s address on social media platform X, Mousavi said, "An inclusive government in Afghanistan guarantees peace, stability, security and sustainable development."
He added that the formation of an inclusive government was sought in the UN Security Council’s Resolutions 2513 and 2593 and the statement of foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighbouring countries including Iran, Pakistan, China, and Turkmenistan called for the same.
This Iranian official reacted to the statements of the Taliban even though last week a delegation from the Iranian parliament had visited Afghanistan and met with the foreign minister and other senior officials of the group.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has had close relations with the Taliban over the past two years, but issues such as the water rights from Helmand River have escalated tensions between the two sides.
