Overview
- Envoys from Iran, Pakistan, China, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan agreed to deepen coordination on Afghanistan without Kabul at the table.
- They urged lifting sanctions, unfreezing Afghan assets and sustaining trade ties to ease the country’s economic and humanitarian strain.
- The statement pledged cooperation against terrorism, drug trafficking and human smuggling and rejected any foreign military presence in Afghanistan.
- Pakistan pressed the Taliban to expel militant groups based on Afghan soil, arguing that regional engagement depends on credible counterterrorism steps.
- Participants called for Pakistan–Afghanistan de‑escalation and set follow‑ups, including a foreign ministers’ meeting in Ashgabat and special envoys’ talks in Islamabad in March.