Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday expressed Tehran’s willingness to mediate between Pakistan and Afghanistan to help ease tensions and resolve ongoing disputes, local media reported.
Pezeshkian made the remarks during a meeting with Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on the sidelines of the 4th ECO Interior Ministers’ Meeting in Tehran.
Pezeshkian underscored the importance of regional peace and unity, calling on neighbouring countries to work towards reducing tensions and preventing conflict. “Today, more than ever, it is essential for Muslim countries to stand together in unity and brotherhood against common enemies,” he said.
His comments come amid strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, following the latest round of talks in Istanbul, which failed to yield any breakthrough despite mediation by regional partners.
According to reports, delegations from both nations held discussions over three consecutive days in Istanbul but could not reach an agreement due to deep-rooted differences in expectations and priorities.
Mediators acknowledged that the gap between the two sides remained significant, preventing meaningful progress on security-related concerns.
Pakistan has repeatedly insisted that any agreement must include firm commitments from Kabul to act against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants and to prevent them from using Afghan territory as a haven. Islamabad regards the TTP insurgency as a direct threat to its national security.
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Analysts have said the failure of the Istanbul talks highlights deep mistrust between the two countries and underlines the challenge of tackling cross-border militancy.
They warned that a prolonged stalemate could further destabilise the region and complicate counterterrorism efforts.
Tensions have escalated following border clashes, with Islamabad warning that it would continue targeted military operations inside Afghan territory if TTP-led attacks persist.
Security officials in Pakistan have said that decisive measures are necessary to safeguard border communities and protect military installations.
The first round of Pakistan-Afghanistan negotiations, jointly mediated by Qatar, Turkey, took place in Doha on October 18–19.
During the second round of talks in Istanbul, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif adopted a firm tone, cautioning Kabul of an “open war” should the dialogue fail to produce results.
Pakistani media reported that Islamabad has also proposed establishing a “third-party oversight structure”, potentially co-chaired by Turkey and Qatar, to verify progress and ensure compliance with any future agreements.
Pezeshkian’s offer to mediate reflects Iran’s broader diplomatic push to promote regional stability amid growing security concerns across South and Central Asia.
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