DUSHANBE, January 11, 2016, Asia-Plus — Iran’s decision to host Muhiddin Kabiri, the leader of the banned Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRP), can negatively impact Tajikistan-Iran relations, Khudoberdi Kholiqnazar, director to the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Tajikistan told reporters in Dushanbe on January 11.
We will recall that Iranian authorities invited Muhiddin Kabiri to attend the International Islamic Unity Conference that took place in Tehran on December 27-29.
“We consider that an unfriendly step and disrespect towards Tajikistan,” head of the Tajik think tank stated at a news conference on January 11.
According to him, such actions can affect bilateral relations between Tajikistan and Iran.
Kholiqnazar stressed that Tajikistan adhered to an open-door policy and maintained good relationships with all countries of the world.
We will recall that Tajikistan summoned Iranian Ambassador to Tajikistan Hojjatollah Faghani on December 29 to express “regret” over Iran”s decision to invite the leader of the banned IRPT to attend the International Islamic Unity Conference.
Tajikistan”s MFA said in a statement that it was “greatly concerned” that “the head of the extremist and terrorist former IRPT, Muhiddin Kabiri, who faces charges of attempting to overthrow the government … has been invited to the conference.”
“Tajikistan’s MFA considers such actions of organizers of this conference to be unacceptable and categorically states that such an attitude to enemies of the state and the people of Tajikistan can negatively affected good relations between Tajikistan and Iran,” the Tajik MFA statement said.
