Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Tehran, Kabul Stress Strengthening Anti-Terrorism Security Cooperation

Tehran, Kabul Stress Strengthening Anti-Terrorism Security Cooperation

TEHRAN - Senior Iranian and Afghan officials in a meeting in Russia on Wednesday underlined the necessity for bolstering mutual security cooperation to fight against terrorism and other causes of instability in the region.
The issue was raised in a meeting between Undersecretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Reza Seifollahi and Afghan National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar on the sidelines of an international security conference in Groznyy, Chechenia.
During the meeting, Atmar appreciated Iran's support and assistance to the Afghan refugees in the past few decades, and expressed the hope that these supports would continue and Tehran and Kabul's cooperation would further develop in all the political, economic and security fields.
Seifollahi, for his part, underscored that Iran welcomes expansion of all-out ties with the brotherly nation of Afghanistan and seeks planning for cooperation in more areas.
The good and brotherly ties between Iran and Afghanistan have always been emphasized by both countries' highest-ranking officials.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in a meeting on Monday with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, referred to abundant commonalities of belief, culture and history between the peoples of Iran and Afghanistan and shared borders between the two countries, noting: “The Islamic Republic of Iran has always paid serious attention to Afghanistan’s interests and security and considers the progress of this country in all sectors as its own.”
Ayatollah Khamenei described Afghan people as courageous, zealous and intelligent, adding: “Afghanistan enjoys the two great benedictions of natural and human wealth and that the country can make good progress by properly using those resources.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution highlighted the Iranian people’s hospitality vis-à-vis Afghan people during years of war and after that, saying: “Unlike certain countries, such as the US and UK, the Islamic Republic of Iran has always treated the Afghan people with respect, brotherhood and hospitality and will withhold no technical, engineering and infrastructural assistance for Afghanistan to exploit its natural resources.”
Ayatollah Khamenei called for a swift settlement of the issue of Iran-Afghanistan border rivers, saying: “Such issues should not give rise to enmity and rancor in the relations between countries like Iran and Afghanistan that share borders, culture and needs.”
During the meeting, which was also attended by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Ashraf Ghani, the President of Afghanistan, expressed happiness with trilateral negotiations held in Tehran, particularly the agreement for transit communications with India through Iran’s southeastern Chabahar Port. “We always appreciate the hospitality of the Iranian people and Your Excellency’s positive view of Afghanistan and we hope that the Tehran negotiations will prepare the ground for increasingly broader relations.”
Mr. Ashraf Ghani added: “In the coming weeks, an expert meeting will be held to discuss issues related to the two countries’ use of border rivers and we hope that this issue will be settled within a proper framework.” (FNA)