KABUL (SW) – In the wake of evident bilateral challenges, Iran’s top envoy for Afghanistan has met with the defense minister of the Islamic Emirate in Kabul to improve border security and mutual ties, said an official statement.
Afghanistan and Iran, two neighbouring countries, despite having longstanding relations with each other, have sometimes faced border challenges. These challenges, during the rule of the Islamic Emirate, have led to several border clashes between the border guards of the two countries.
In addition to this, Iranian officials have occasionally expressed concerns about the security of their border with Afghanistan and, due to these concerns, have started the process of constructing a wall along their border with Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid, the acting Minister of Defense of the Islamic Emirate, and Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s ambassador and special representative for Afghanistan, have met and discussed increasing border security between the two countries.
The Iranian embassy in Kabul, in a statement shared on its X account, wrote about this meeting: “In the meeting of Mr. Kazemi Qomi, special representative of the president and acting ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Afghanistan, with Mr. Mawlavi Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid, acting Minister of Defense of Afghanistan, there was a shared agreement on the implementation of the border commissioners’ agreements, increasing border security, and seriously combating destabilizing forces.”
Experts believe that resolving the concerns about border security between the two countries would be beneficial for enhancing political and economic interaction between Kabul and Tehran.
Abdul Jabbar Akbari, an international relations expert, said: “The two countries must be diligent regarding their borders; the more stability there is on the borders, naturally, the security concerns of both countries will be alleviated, and the two countries can smartly work on developing their joint economy.”
Experts emphasize that the governments of both countries must take honest steps for security along the Afghanistan-Iran border.
Mohammad Zalmay Afghanyar Popal, a political affairs expert, said: “In the past three years, the interim government has raised the issue of non-interference in the affairs of countries and security. Can Iran also give the same assurance to Afghanistan that it will not push Afghanistan toward insecurity under its management?”
It should be noted that previously, the border officials of Afghanistan and Iran had discussed ways to prevent border issues in their meetings.
