Iran has reiterated its readiness to mediate between Pakistan and the Taliban, offering once again to help defuse rising tensions along the border after multiple failed diplomatic efforts.
Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran was prepared to undertake “any initiative or effort” to help resolve the ongoing dispute.
His remarks come after a visit to Pakistan last week, where he met with prime minister and other high-ranking officials.
“Iran is fully ready to support dialogue and regional cooperation,” Larijani said, echoing Tehran’s previous offers to help stabilize relations between the two neighboring countries.
Iran has signaled in various occasions that it is willing to host a regional dialogue aimed at reducing tensions. A senior Iranian delegation also recently traveled to Islamabad as part of those efforts.
The offer comes as border clashes and diplomatic stalemates continue to strain ties between Islamabad and Taliban. Tensions spiked after eight days of fighting along the frontier and the breakdown of negotiations in Istanbul.
In a news conference this week, Pakistan’s foreign minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, said Islamabad had been prepared to launch a cross-border “clearing operation” inside Afghanistan during the height of the latest flare-up. That action, he said, was halted after urgent appeals from Qatari leaders.
Tensions escalated further after Pakistani airstrikes reportedly targeted areas in Khost, Kunar, and Paktika provinces in eastern Afghanistan. In response, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid warned that Islamabad would face retaliation.
UNAMA has confirmed that at least 10 civilians have been killed in the airstrikes in Khost.
