Tajikistan's minister of internal affairs said his government needs Iran's help in all areas and is especially keen to learn from the Islamic Republic's experience in training security and police forces as well as border guards.
Rahimzoda Ramazon Hamro made the appeal in a meeting with his visiting counterpart Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli after the end of the meeting of interior ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, which was held in Dushanbe on Friday and Saturday, IRNA reported on Sunday.
Pointing to Tajik President Emomali Rahmon's concern over the publicity campaigns and recruitment activities of terrorist groups in the Central Asian country, especially those by the so-called Islamic State (IS), he said due to illiteracy and lack of knowledge, some Tajik nationals have been influenced by Salafi and extremist missionaries.
Referring to terrorism and extremism as the main challenges facing the contemporary world, the Tajik minister expressed hope that regional countries in cooperation with one another would find a way out of the crisis in the shortest possible time.
The Iranian minister highlighted the significance of exchanging visits to help enhance the level of bilateral ties and said President Hassan Rouhani has stressed the implementation of mutual agreements reached between the two sides.
Citing numerous cultural, linguistic, religious and historical similarities with Tajikistan, Rahmani Fazli hoped for increased Tehran-Dushanbe relations.
Turning to the menace posed by terrorism, he stressed that a military solution is not enough to overcome such challenges.
"Terrorist leaders take advantage of people's poverty and deceive them with false promises," he said, adding that besides taking military action, it is necessary to raise public awareness to help people not to be tricked by the publicity campaigns of terrorist groups.
"Most of the individuals who are attracted to terrorist groups have a wrong understanding of religious thoughts," he noted.
Pointing to Iran's experience in fighting terrorism and extremism, the minister said Iran will help "the brotherly country" which is faced with such problems. He said terrorism is an international issue rather a regional crisis, censuring the US and some other western countries for providing terrorists in the Middle East with intelligence and equipment.
Commenting on drug smuggling, he said the issue is interconnected with terrorism and security as the activity provides part of the resources needed by terrorists.
