Turkmenistan considers the meeting of the foreign ministers of the neighboring states of Afghanistan an opportunity to develop a regional approach to ensuring peace. This was stated by the press service of the Turkmen foreign ministry following the meeting of the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Iran, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, held in an online format.

Turkmenistan was represented at the talks by Deputy Foreign Minister Vepa Hajiev.

“The current meeting is viewed by Turkmenistan as an opportunity to develop a consolidated regional approach to ensuring peace and security in Afghanistan and further all-round development of this country,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi tweeted following the meeting:

We agreed that ensuring peace in Afghanistan is in the interests of the entire multinational Afghan people and the world community, and that this can be facilitated by:

• Safe borders
• Ending the threat of terrorism from Afghan territory
• Opportunities for the return of refugees
• Economic stability and improved living standards
• Implementation of energy projects
• Strengthening regional economic integration.

The participants in the meeting, expressing support for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, as well as commitment to ensuring peace, security, national reconciliation, the principles of non-interference and sustainable development, stressed that the future of the country should be determined by its people.

In mid-August, the Taliban (members of the “Taliban” group, banned and recognized as terrorist in the Russian Federation) entered Kabul and announced the establishment of control over Afghanistan. The US military, after a 20-year presence, left the country on the night of August 31.