Iran and the Taliban are putting their past animosity aside and making a push for friendship. In a significant move, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi recently visited Kabul, marking his first trip since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021.

During his visit, Araqchi met with senior Taliban leaders to discuss pressing issues like border tensions, the treatment of Afghan refugees in Iran, and ongoing water disputes. This newfound cooperation is seen as a major setback for Pakistan's government, led by Shehbaz Sharif, which has been experiencing a strained relationship with the Taliban.

Iran has reaffirmed its commitment to repatriating around 3.5 million Afghan refugees, as confirmed by Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi during his meeting with Taliban leaders. This move is significant, especially considering Iran's Ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeed Iravani, stated in December that “more than six million Afghans have sought refuge in Iran.” Additionally, Araghchi assured that Tehran intends to respect Afghanistan's sovereignty by avoiding interference in its internal affairs, as per Afghan government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat.

The Afghan government released a statement indicating that Iran’s foreign minister emphasised the need to complete enforcement of the Helmand River water treaty, which governs the shared use of water resources between Afghanistan and Iran.

Meanwhile, acting Taliban Prime Minister Hasan Akhund called on Iran to treat Afghan refugees with dignity. It refrained from pursuing mass deportations, asserting that such actions could not be carried out swiftly. He also warned that incidents like the execution of Afghan nationals in Iran could provoke strong public reactions.

Tensions persist between Pakistan and Iran due to the presence of militant groups operating along their shared border. Iran has accused these groups of seeking refuge in Pakistan and crossing into Iranian territory to carry out attacks.

It is worth recalling that last year, Iran conducted an airstrike within Pakistan aimed at targeting these militant groups. In response, Pakistan launched an attack on Iran, which resulted in civilian casualties under the pretext of countering terrorism.

Furthermore, there is a possibility that the Taliban could gain access to Iran's Chabahar port for trade. This development would decrease Afghanistan's reliance on Pakistan’s Karachi port, potentially reshaping regional trade dynamics.