Araghchi: Current Power in Afghanistan Has Established Its Rule

In this interview, Araghchi stressed that the on-the-ground reality is that a political power has settled in Afghanistan over the past three and a half years and has established its rule.

The Iranian foreign minister said: “The reality is that now in Afghanistan, a power is in charge that over the past three and a half years has consolidated its authority. Unlike the past, when each corner of Afghanistan was controlled by different groups, it is no longer the case. Security is established, and we must address and resolve these issues in line with our national interests.”

This senior Iranian official mentioned the issues of narcotics, the presence of Afghan migrants in Iran, border security, and the water rights issue as key topics in Iran’s relations with the Islamic Emirate.

Araghchi said: “There is the issue of drugs, the issue of Afghan migrants, which has become a sensitive topic within our country, and people say something must be done about it. There is also the security of our borders; we have around a thousand kilometers of shared border, and the security of every meter of it is important to us.”

Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate has welcomed Araghchi’s remarks regarding the establishment of security in Afghanistan.

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, said that the Iranian foreign minister’s statements reflect a deep understanding of the current realities in Afghanistan.

The deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate added: “This, in essence, means a correct understanding of the current realities in Afghanistan. The reality is that there is a unified political authority in Afghanistan that holds comprehensive control over the entire territory.”

“The more the relations and exchanges between Afghanistan and Iran increase, the easier it becomes to address challenges and find appropriate solutions to the concerns of both sides,” said Janat Faheem Chakari, a political analyst.

Although the interim government has had good economic and political relations with Iran over the past three years, the expulsion of Afghan migrants from Iran, the water rights issue, and Iran’s concerns about border security and drug trafficking have affected relations between Kabul and Tehran.