KABUL - Stressing enhanced ties with neighboring countries, including India, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Sunday expressed optimism that relations with neighboring states were navigating toward positive direction.

A statement from the Presidential Palace said that Ghani held video calls with Afghanistan’s ambassadors in Iran, Pakistan, China, India, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani and the ministry’s political advisor Hikmat Karzai were present on the occasion. During the course of his talks, the president said that time was ripped for broadening ties with neighboring countries. He directed the foreign minister and Afghan ambassadors to work hard to promote ties with the country’s immediate neighbors.

In addition, the president directed foreign minister to work out a mechanism to finalize agreements inked with the neighboring countries. He directed the officials concerned to portray true image of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan, he said was not and would not pose any threat to any neighboring country. He called for positive and tangible reforms in Afghanistan’s embassies abroad and urged the officials to work hard to promote the country’s interests.

He mentioned his imminent visit to India and Iran and an invitation that would be extended to the president of Tajikistan to visit Kabul. He recalled he travelled to Pakistan and China and held result-oriented talks with the officials of both the countries. (Pajhwok)