KABUL - Tehran on Sunday expressed its readiness to work together with Kabul on legalising the status of Afghans living in the neighbouring country and offered all possible support to the war-torn nation..
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif voiced Tehran’s willingness for consultations with Afghanistan on the issue at a news conference with his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani
After his arrival in Kabul, he went into talks on bilateral cooperation with his Rabbani. Zarif was accorded a warm welcome by Deputy Foreign Minister Nasir Ahmad Andisha.
Iran was ready for cooperation with Afghanistan on the status of millions of “Afghan guests”, the visiting foreign minister said. “We can pave the ground for legalising residency of the Afghans.”.
Iran was happily hosting 410,000 Afghan schoolchildren, 17,000 university students and three million Afghan nationals, Zarif said, adding the neighbours could forge environmental cooperation and work on water resources.
Similarly, the two nations could make coordinate efforts against terrorism and drug trafficking, said Zarif, who also met President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah.
Zarif’s meeting w.ith Ghani was also attended by Abdullah, Vice President Sarwar Danish, Rabbani, National Security Advisor Hanif Atmar, Finance Minister Eklil Ahmad Hakimi and a group of president aides.
Views were exchanged on expanding the bilateral relationships, boosting cooperation and common issues such as combating terrorism.
During the presser, Zarif condemned recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and shared his sympathies with victims’ families. Both countries were located in a dangerous region replete with extremist movement, he remarked.
He went on to offer Kabul cooperation in economic, transit, transport and infrastructure sectors. He also commended Afghanistan’s support to Iran on international forums. (Pajhwok)