DUSHANBE, Tajikistan — The speaker of Iran’s Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, held talks on Afghanistan’s security situation with parliamentary leaders from several regional countries during his visit to Tajikistan this week.
While details of the discussions have not been fully disclosed, Iranian media reported that key issues included stabilizing Afghanistan, curbing drug trafficking, and preventing arms smuggling. The talks reflect a growing regional concern about the security challenges posed by Afghanistan, particularly as Taliban control has brought new risks to the area.
Ghalibaf’s two-day visit to Tajikistan marked his participation in both the 30th anniversary of the Tajik Constitution and an international parliamentary conference. The conference, attended by leaders from about 10 regional parliaments, was convened to address shared challenges and strengthen diplomatic ties among neighboring nations.
In his address at the conference, Ghalibaf called for greater engagement within international organizations, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union and other Asian and Islamic forums, to bolster regional cooperation.
The visit also highlighted broader concerns among countries like Iran and Tajikistan over the growing influence of extremist groups in Afghanistan. Iranian officials have repeatedly expressed concerns over security threats stemming from Afghanistan, noting that their border fencing is now more than 25 percent complete.
