The European Union intends to increase cooperation with Afghanistan's neighbours to help them cope better with the consequences of the Afghan crisis, Peter Stano, the European Commission's lead spokesperson for external affairs, said in a statement.

Stano said, "They are at the forefront, on the firing line, in terms of the consequences of this crisis: the humanitarian consequences, the migration consequences, regarding stability or the lack thereof, and also terrorist threats." Stepping up cooperation with countries such as Iran and Pakistan, which are the most likely to bear the burden of the crisis, was the first decision made by the EU when the Afghan crisis began, Stano added.  Top EU officials have already opened a dialogue with officials of Afghanistan's neighbouring countries on ways to expand cooperation. The EU also cooperates with other countries and international organisations to help Iran and Pakistan cope with the repercussions of the Afghan crisis.

Last week, High Representative Josep Borrell, Vice President of the European Commission, met Hossein Amir Abdollahian, the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, to discuss the "implications of the Afghanistan crisis".

Israeli Defence Minister “goodwill gestures" to Palestinian authority

'Surrender or will get killed...', Taliban search for American-British Army spies

Sri Lanka health system on high alert over new Covid variant detected in South Africa

U.N General Assembly calls for assistance for Haiti in wake of earthquake