Outsiders should not interfere in the affairs of Afghanistan and decide its future, Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said on Monday.
“Peace in Afghanistan should be between Afghan groups. The Afghan government and people should have the centrality. The Taliban should be part of peace process, not the whole process,” Zarif said in response to a question by 1TV reporter on the sidelines of Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process – meeting in Turkey.
“We have never accepted foreign interference in Afghanistan. We have never accepted outsiders’ decision on Afghanistan’s future and we believe it will only hurt Afghanistan,” Zarif said.
US resumed peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar on Saturday, three months after the process was halted by President Donald Trump.
The Taliban have so far refused to negotiate directly with the Afghan government.
Iran has been hosting Taliban delegations for talks and Zarif said the talks were only about peace.
“We respect the Afghan government. We are not interfering in Afghan affairs and we believe that outsiders should not interfere in Afghan affairs. They should help as we do,” Zarif said.
