Afghanistan.. Dead in Jalalabad bombings and a quartet statement calling for national reconciliation and an inclusive government

There were dead and wounded today, Saturday, in explosions targeting the police in the city of Jalalabad (southeast of Afghanistan), and an explosion occurred in the capital, Kabul, while Russia, China, Pakistan and Iran called - in a joint statement - for national reconciliation and the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan.

Al-Jazeera correspondent Ihab al-Aqdi reported - quoting medical sources in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province - that the bombings that targeted the police and the headquarters of the caretaker government, which was recently formed by the Taliban, killed 3 people and wounded 21 others.

Earlier on Saturday, a car bomb exploded in the 13th security zone, west of the Afghan capital, Kabul.

Al-Jazeera correspondent Ihab Al-Aqdi said that two people were injured as a result of the explosion, which was used by a bomb attached to the car.

The Kabul bombing comes about 3 weeks after a bloody bombing at Kabul airport claimed by the Islamic State, in which about 170 people were killed, including 13 American soldiers.

Today's bombings come at a time when the Taliban are trying to impose security in Kabul and other major cities.

The caretaker government that was formed recently by the movement has called on the employees to resume their work, and a number of these employees have already returned, including policemen who are now deployed at Kabul Airport in particular.

Comprehensive government and security belt

Politically, Iran, Russia, China and Pakistan issued a joint statement in which they stressed the need to enhance peace and security in Afghanistan, and to respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The statement, which was announced after a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit that concluded Friday in the Tajik capital, expressed the concerns of Afghanistan's neighboring countries about the dangers of refugee flows in light of the fragile humanitarian, social and economic situation.

The statement stressed the need to achieve national reconciliation, the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan, and the need to confront threats such as the spread of terrorism and drugs to ensure regional stability.

The statement called on the international community to continue providing aid and support efforts to improve the economic situation in Afghanistan.

In the same context, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stressed today, Saturday, in a press conference with his Tajik counterpart, Imam Ali Rahmon, that the settlement of the crisis in Afghanistan must be through the formation of an inclusive government, stressing that Tehran will not allow the presence of what he described as terrorist groups on its borders.

For his part, Ali Rahman stressed that the lack of security and stability in Afghanistan threatens the security of the countries in the region, calling for a ceasefire in the Panjshir region (north of Kabul), and opening roads for sending humanitarian aid.

On Friday, the Tajik president proposed the formation of a reliable security belt around Afghanistan to prevent the possible expansion of terrorist groups. He also spoke with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan about an agreement to help negotiations between the Taliban and the Tajik opposition, mediated by Tajikistan and Pakistan.

The countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization stressed at their summit yesterday, Friday, the need for a quick settlement of the situation in Afghanistan, and the formation of an inclusive government with the participation of all ethnic, religious and political groups in society, and the group called on Washington to bear part of the burden of reconstruction in Afghanistan.

In Athens, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panayotopoulos said on Saturday that the danger of what he described as terrorism in Afghanistan still exists.

Panayotopoulos stressed - in his speech at the meeting of the chiefs of staff of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) - that there are great challenges, including possible waves of migration from Afghanistan to Europe, which require the support of neighboring countries to host potential refugees.

UN mission

In other developments, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted on Friday a resolution extending the mission of the UN mission in Afghanistan for six months, stressing the role of the international organization in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Concurrently, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the Security Council should consider developing a plan to exclude the Taliban from some future sanctions.