TEHRAN – Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said on Sunday that Afghan security has direct impact on security of the neighboring countries.
Larijani made the remarks in a meeting head of Afghan Parliamentary Commission for Legislative, Justice and Judiciary Affairs in the Afghan House of Elders, Ghulam Mohiuddin Munsif.
There are vast cooperation between Iran and Afghanistan and we try to play a constructive role in elimination of your country's problems,' Larijani said.
He voiced concern over growth of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, calling for replacing cultivation of poppy with other crops so Afghanistan would go ahead with economic development.
He promised to help the Afghan agriculture ministry with expertise to implement the plan sponsored by the United Nations to replace poppy cultivation with other crops.
Munsif, who is on a visit to Iran heading a delegation, said Afghan nation is very thankful to Iran because the refugees are well treated and Afghanistan is given much help.
He thanked Iranian government for financial support to Kabul government and said that the Afghan parliament is willing to develop diplomatic and parliamentary ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
He expressed deep concern about about the heinous crimes Daesh terrorist group perpetrated in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan and France.
He called for collective cooperation of the international community in campaign against terrorism.
He hoped for a tripartite Iran-Afghanistan-India accord for transit and transport of goods from Chabahar port so that the capacity is further used.
Thanking Iran for hospitality of Iranian government for Afghan refugees, Munsif said a number of the refugees have problem with their ID cards and receive minor wages.
'Our main problem is the Afghans imprisoned in Iran and we hope that based on an agreement, now in effect, we will be able to swap certain groups of prisoners.'
As for poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, he said in Afghanistan, the law banning poppy cultivation has been ratified and enforced and those regions, held by Taliban, are the areas the product is cultivated and is out of Afghan government control.
'However, in the regions under our control we have replaced saffron cultivation, which is economical and our lands are appropriate for saffron.'
Leading a parliamentary delegation, Munsif is on a four-day official visit to Iran to discuss with the Iranian officials and members of parliament on issues of mutual concern.
The National Assembly, also known as the Afghan Parliament, is Afghanistan's national legislature.
It is a bicameral body, comprising two chambers: Meshrano Jirga or the House of Elders, which is an upper house with 102 seats; and Wolesi Jirga or the House of the People, which is a lower house with 250 seats. (IRNA)