Intl. community must help Afghan refugees in neighboring countries, says Iran’s FM

Iran’s foreign minister says the international community has to take on the responsibility of attending to the needs of the Afghan refugees who fled to neighboring countries, particularly Iran, following the Taliban militant group’s takeover of the country.

“The international community must assume its responsibility to attend to Afghan refugees in Afghanistan’s neighbors, most particularly Iran,” Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said during a phone conversation with his Indonesian counterpart, Retno Marsudi, on Thursday.

Iran is home to over 3 million Afghan refugees. The fall of the former Afghan government has caused a sharp increase in the number of Afghan nationals seeking refuge in neighboring countries, especially Iran.

Amir-Abdollahian highlighted Iran’s active diplomacy regarding the situation in Afghanistan, and reiterated Tehran’s firm stance on the necessity of the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan, according to a readout of the phone call provided by Iran’s Foreign Ministry website.

He also condemned the recent targeted terrorist bomb attacks in Afghanistan and underlined the Taliban’s responsibility in providing security for Afghan ethnic groups and followers of various Islamic sects.

This month, a local affiliate of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group conducted separate terrorist attacks against two Shia mosques in the Afghan cities of Kandahar and Kunduz, killing dozens of worshippers and wounding many more.

Iran strongly denounced the attacks, saying Daesh’s acts of terror aim to sow religious discord in Afghanistan.

Iran also sent humanitarian aid for those wounded in the two terrorist attacks and welcomed a group of Afghan nationals who sustained injuries during the Kandahar bombing for treatment.

In talks with Omani counterpart, Iran FM raises alarm at Daesh terrorist acts in Afghanistan

In talks with his Omani counterpart, the Iranian foreign minister warns of the intensification of violence and terrorist acts by Daesh in Afghanistan.

During the phone conversation, Amir-Abdollahian and Marsudi also discussed bilateral ties as well as other regional and international developments.

Pointing to the recent agreements reached between Tehran and Jakarta in New York, the top Iranian diplomat said the Islamic Republic of Iran is making efforts to expand and strengthen its relations with the Republic of Indonesia.

For her part, Marsudi underscored the need for respecting human rights and the rights of women, and said addressing the problems of Afghan refugees is a human duty that calls for international attention.

She also welcomed the idea of deepening all-out ties between Iran and Indonesia and invited Amir-Abdollahian to visit Jakarta.

The Indonesian government has issued necessary instructions to state organizations concerning Tehran-Jakarta ties so that proposed bilateral projects are finalized and put into practice at a proper pace, she added.

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