KABUL: Zakir Jalali, Deputy Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has stated that it is crucial to move beyond a purely security-focused approach regarding Afghanistan and to pay attention to the country’s constructive role in “connectivity, cooperation, and regional integration.”
He made the remarks in a post on his X account on Sunday night, apparently in response to the Tehran meeting on Afghanistan, emphasizing that Afghanistan is no longer viewed as a “crisis management” issue compared to the situation before 2021.
He mentioned: “Within this framework, regional countries will be able to effectively utilize Afghanistan’s transit, trade, and connectivity potential, ultimately serving common interests and enhancing regional integration.”
According to him, the practical steps taken towards “transit, regional connectivity, trade facilitation, and expanding economic cooperation” between Afghanistan and neighboring countries over the past four years signify that a forward-looking perspective can lead to “stability, prosperity, and mutual benefits” for the region.
Zakir Jalali underscored that engagement with Afghanistan should be based on “ground realities, capabilities, and opportunities.”
This comes as representatives and delegations from Afghanistan’s neighboring countries and Russia engage in discussions about security issues related to the country at the Tehran meeting.
Zakir Jalali: Concentrating on Afghanistan’s role in regional connectivity, cooperation, and integration is important
