Afghanistan's neighboring countries have agreed to hold a fifth meeting of their foreign ministers in Ashgabat. This was announced by the Iranian Foreign Ministry following a meeting of special representatives held in Tehran.

"We agreed to hold the fifth meeting of the foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighboring countries in Ashgabat in the near future," the statement read.

Representatives from Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, China, Russia, and Iran participated in the event. According to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the participants supported efforts to reduce tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan and expressed their readiness to contribute to strengthening these efforts. The parties also agreed to hold a second regional meeting on Afghanistan in Islamabad in March 2026.

The participating countries emphasized the importance of regional integration in addressing the problems of the Middle East. They expressed their readiness to contribute to the establishment of stability in Afghanistan, as well as to assist in the fight against terrorism, smuggling, and drug trafficking.