As the fifth meeting of foreign ministers of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries approaches, all eyes are on Turkmenistan, the host of this gathering.
Yoshiyong, the special representative of China for Afghanistan affairs, announced his talks with Ahmad Kakabayevich Gurbanov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan, on X platform. He emphasized that the discussions of this meeting will primarily focus on Afghanistan. While previous meetings, especially the Doha gathering, failed to make significant progress in the Afghan peace process, the Chinese representative expressed hope that the upcoming meeting could yield more positive results.
The complex situation of Afghanistan and the role of regional actors in this complexity underscore the importance of carefully examining the expectations from this meeting. Particularly, how China and Iran, who played a vague and non-constructive role in the Doha meeting, approach the people of Afghanistan with a clear and hopeful message in this round is crucial. Meanwhile, some countries, including China, Iran, and Pakistan, are accused of using the Taliban as a tool to advance their interests in the region and as a winning card in international games. However, China’s special representative has emphasized that the failure of the Doha meeting to achieve an effective dialogue with the Taliban should not be an obstacle for further efforts.
Considering the challenges ahead, expectations from the Turkmenistan meeting should be grounded in realism. Although previous inefficiencies have led to skepticism, this meeting could serve as a turning point for providing innovative solutions to Afghanistan’s problems and alleviating the suffering of its people. It presents an opportunity to chart a new path that transcends the repetitive patterns of the past, allowing for tangible progress.
Among the waves of disappointment, hopes linger that the upcoming meeting can serve as a significant step toward resolving the crisis in Afghanistan by adopting approaches based on respect for human rights and supporting the establishment of a legal and just government. Such a perspective can not only help improve the situation in Afghanistan but also signify the commitment of the international community to ending one of the most complex regional crises.
It is hoped that this meeting, by transitioning from repeated statements and symbolic actions, will progress towards practical initiatives and meaningful partnerships, ultimately illuminating the hope in the heart of Afghanistan’s dark nights.
