Foreign ministers urge the United States to lift sanctions against Afghanistan

The United States and its allies must take responsibility for the difficult situation in Afghanistan. This has been stated in a joint statement by the foreign ministers of countries neighboring Afghanistan, adopted following the fourth ministerial meeting in Samarkand.

The foreign ministers of Iran, China, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan noted that the United States and its allies must immediately lift the unilateral sanctions imposed on Afghanistan and return foreign Afghan assets. The foreign ministers opposed the restoration of “military bases in and around Afghanistan” by the United States and its allies, as this “does not contribute to regional peace and stability”.