At the fourth quadrilateral meeting on Afghanistan, the foreign ministers of China, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia reaffirmed their support for Afghanistan as an independent, united, and stable country, free from terrorism, war, and narcotics.
The meeting, held on September 25, 2025, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, saw all parties express support for effective regional initiatives aimed at strengthening Afghanistan’s economy. They also emphasized the importance of maintaining economic engagement with Afghanistan to improve the living conditions of its people.
In a joint statement, the representatives stressed the need to continue humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and called on the international community to provide additional emergency aid to the Afghan people.
According to Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which released the statement, all sides highlighted the importance of establishing an inclusive system of governance in Afghanistan that reflects the interests and aspirations of all segments of Afghan society.
The foreign ministers, expressing concern over the threat of terrorist groups such as ISIS, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), al-Qaeda, and others in the region, said these groups pose a serious threat to regional and global security. They underlined that strengthening peace and stability in Afghanistan and countering terrorist threats is in the common interest of the region.
They further stressed that women’s and girls’ access to education and economic opportunities—including employment, participation in public life, freedom of movement, and justice—would contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity in Afghanistan.
The representatives of these countries also stated that NATO members must assume primary responsibility for the current situation in Afghanistan and urged them to lift unilateral sanctions against the country and return Afghanistan’s frozen foreign assets.
The foreign ministers of China, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia also emphasized that Afghanistan’s national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity must be respected, and they strongly opposed the re-establishment of military bases inside or around Afghanistan, considering it harmful to regional peace and security.
