Iran-Afghan Cooperation Vital to Mutual Security

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani condemned the actions of terrorists supported by some meddling countries to make Afghanistan insecure, stressing that Iran-Afghanistan joint measures are essential to strengthen security and stability in both countries.

"Accelerating intelligence and security cooperation between Iran and Afghanistan will help increase stability and security in both countries," he said.

Shamkhani made the remarks in a Saturday phone conversation with the Afghan president's national security adviser, Mohammad Hanif Atmar, IRNA reported.

His comments came after Taliban's Friday suicide attack on the military headquarters in the vicinity of the 209th Shaheen Corps of the Afghan National Army forces in Mazar-i-Sharif, the provincial capital of Balkh.

Two army vehicles with at least 10 Taliban attackers dressed in army uniforms managed to enter the base. The attack, seen as the deadliest ever on an Afghan Army base, killed more than 140 soldiers, according to the latest estimates by officials.

The SNSC chief offered his sympathy to the Afghan people and government as well as the bereaved families of victims.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to dispatch any kind of aid to the victims of the attack," he said.

Shamkhani deplored the moves of certain regional countries to make Afghanistan insecure and said they "are striving to transfer the defeated terrorists from Iraq and Syria to this country" so that they could go on muddying the regional waters to achieve their pernicious goals.

Iran and some regional countries are at odds over their policies on the ongoing conflicts in Iraq, Syria and other war-torn Middle East countries and back opposing sides. Iran believes the approach adopted by some Persian Gulf Arab states has paved the way for a sharp rise in terror activities in the region.

In related remarks on Saturday, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi denounced the deadly terrorist attack.

"The region will not see peace unless the United States and foreign forces put an end to their meddlesome policies," he said.

Shamkhani urged the Afghan people and government as well as political groups to launch a serious campaign against terrorists.

Atmar, expressing his gratitude over the goodwill of Iranian officials, stressed the importance of continuing talks and improving cooperation between Kabul and Tehran to help eradicate terrorism in the region and remove the grounds for insecurity and instability.