The Afghan interim government run by the Taliban dismissed its governor over Herat province, while the countries neighboring Afghanistan held their second meeting Wednesday morning in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

The official account of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan on Twitter said that Mullah Noor Muhammad was appointed as the new governor of the state.

The appointment of Sheikh Mawlawi Muhammad Noor Islam Jar as the new governor of Herat Province in western Afghanistan.

pic.twitter.com/sJcDC9qUc7

— Islamic Emirate (@alemara_ar) October 27, 2021

Al-Jazeera correspondent in Afghanistan quoted a government security source as saying that the governor of Herat province, Abdul Qayyum Rouhani, was dismissed from his position for failing to control the security situation in the western province of the country.

A few days ago, at least 16 people, including children, were killed, during a heavy exchange of fire between a group of militants affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) and Taliban security forces in the city of Herat in western Afghanistan.

Herat Police Command said in a statement that the clash - which lasted 3 hours - took place when the fighters of the new Taliban government surrounded the militants in a high-rise building.

The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in mid-August, toppling the previous US-backed government and vowed to restore stability after a 20-year war.

But its efforts were stymied by a series of attacks claimed by the Islamic State's Khorasan Province.


Tehran talks

In a related context, the countries neighboring Afghanistan held their second meeting this morning, Wednesday, in the Iranian capital, Tehran, without the presence of a delegation from the Taliban movement.

In addition to the foreign ministers of countries neighboring Afghanistan, the foreign ministers of Russia and China will participate in the meeting via video conference technology.

The Iranian First Vice President, Mohammad Mokhber, reiterated the need to form a comprehensive Afghan government to ensure security and stability in the country.

He added that his country respects the sovereignty of its neighboring countries and stands by the Afghan people.

For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said that "his country supports the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan," stressing that ensuring stability and security in Afghan lands and Afghan borders with neighboring countries is the responsibility of the interim government in Kabul.

Abdullahian added, in a speech during a meeting of Afghanistan's neighboring countries, that a large part of what Afghanistan is experiencing is due to foreign interventions.

Pakistan hosted the first meeting of foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighboring countries on September 8, in which the foreign ministers of Iran, China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan participated.


international invitations

In turn, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees called on countries neighboring Afghanistan to increase aid to Afghan civilians crossing the border in search of safety.

Spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Babar Baloch, said that the government of Pakistan welcomed the decision to facilitate the border crossings between the two countries, noting that the closure of the crossings negatively affected trade and transport of Afghan civilians wishing to seek safety.

He added in a press statement that the closure of the "Spin Boldak" border crossing between the two countries for several weeks has put many women and children in a difficult situation, stressing that the decision to facilitate the crossing will spare many Afghan civilians from falling into the hands of human traffickers.

Baloch pointed out that 90% of Afghan refugees in the world are hosted by Iran and Pakistan, adding that there is a need for more international support to provide protection for more than 1.4 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan and about 800,000 in Iran.

"The countries neighboring Afghanistan should increase their aid to Afghan civilians who cross the border for safety," he added.

On September 7, the United Nations launched an urgent humanitarian appeal for its activities in Afghanistan during the remaining four months of this year, at a value of $606 million.