Iran will host a high-level mediation conference between Pakistan and Afghanistan next week, marking the fourth attempt by a foreign capital to bring both sides to the negotiating table after unsuccessful rounds in Doha, Istanbul, and Jeddah. The announcement came Thursday from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who confirmed the meeting will take place next Tuesday and Wednesday in Tehran.
Iran will not mediate alone. Delegations from Russia, China, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan are expected to attend, shaping what could be the most expansive diplomatic effort yet to de-escalate the crisis that has intensified since October. Their participation underscores the growing regional concern as border clashes and political friction between Pakistan and the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan show no signs of subsiding.
Tensions, long present since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, dramatically escalated in October when Pakistan carried out airstrikes in and around Kabul, targeting what Islamabad described as operatives of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The strikes triggered days of cross-border fighting and prompted renewed calls for diplomatic intervention.
Despite a temporary ceasefire reached on October 19 in Doha, talks aimed at securing a more lasting agreement have failed to gain traction across four rounds of meetings. Regional participation in Tehran may offer new leverage. China previously brokered a short-term reduction in hostilities in May, and both Russia and Uzbekistan maintain comparatively stable ties with Afghanistan that could help break the deadlock.
The inclusion of Tajikistan is particularly notable. Historically at odds with the Taliban, Tajikistan has recently moved toward a cautious thaw with Kabul, including minister-level phone discussions and a high-ranking Tajik delegation’s visit to Afghanistan.
One of the central disputes remains Pakistan’s allegation that the TTP enjoys safe haven inside Afghanistan, enabling attacks against Pakistani security forces. Kabul denies the claim. During the third round of talks in Istanbul, Pakistan reportedly proposed relocating TTP leaders and fighters into controlled exile within Pakistan’s northern region—far from the border—to reduce tensions. Afghan officials rejected the proposal.