Kabul Not to Allow Use of its Soil Against Neighbours: Ghani
We agreed to counter drug trafficking rings: Rouhani
KABUL - President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani during his visit to Iran pledged he would not allow Afghanistan’s soil to be used against other counties for insurgent or any other violent activities.
Earlier, President Ghani along with high-level delegation left for Iran on Sunday morning on a two-day visit to discuss range of issues of bilateral interests with officials in Tehran, a statement from the Presidential Palace said.
The president, the statement said is scheduled to meet his Iranian counterpart Dr. Hassan Rouhani and other high officials during his visit. Both countries' foreign ministers are expected to sign a bilateral cooperation deal.
Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq, deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Salahuddin Rabani, foreign minister, Mohammad Hanif Atmar, National Security Adviser, Eklil Hakimi, finance minister, Dawood Shah Sabah, minister of Mines and Petroleum, Sayed Hussain Alemi Balkhi, minister for Refugees and Repatriation and other high officials accompanied the president.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said that his country and neighboring Afghanistan have agreed on intelligence and security cooperation as part of efforts to combat illicit drugs trafficking and terrorism, Iranian Media reports Sunday.
In a joint press conference with his Afghan counterpart Mohammad Ashraf Ghani in Tehran, Rouhani said: “Concerning the issue of narcotics, which is a menace beleaguering the region, Iran and Afghanistan itself, we agreed to have intelligence and security cooperation to counter drug trafficking rings.”
Rouhani said Tehran and Kabul agreed to share intelligence on terrorism, violence and extremism in the region, including in Afghan regions bordering Iran, and conduct joint operations if need be.
He added that talks were also held on the issue of Afghan refugees currently residing in Iran, stressing that an agreement was reached on the adoption of measures to register all Afghans now living in Iran.
Turning to the ongoing crisis in Yemen, Rouhani urged all regional countries to formulate political solutions for issues that have turned violent, and help Yemeni people to solve their own problems at the negotiating table and establish peace and calm in their crisis-hit country. (Pajhwok)