The director of the Center for Strategic Research of the Expediency Council says Iran supports the Afghan nation’s battle against terrorism.
Ali Akbar Velayati made the remarks after a meeting with Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Afghanistan Mohammad Mohaqiq in Tehran on Thursday, IRNA reported.
Velayati said, “Iran backs the Afghans’ (efforts) to overcome terrorists and establish a legal and democratic government.”
He said the Afghan people have made achievements in their campaign against terrorist groups and expressed hope that the governments in Iraq and Syria would be able to follow suit.
He said in his meeting with the visiting Afghan official, they discussed the fight against illicit drugs and the ways to prevent the cultivation of the plants used to make such drugs. The senior advisor to the Leader pointed out, “We enjoy cordial relations with Mohaqiq, who has played an effective role in (the process of) drawing up the constitution of Afghanistan.”
Velayati continued, “Iran and Afghanistan enjoy close relations and so they have many things in common in various areas, and we are keen to expand bilateral cooperation at (international) gatherings, such as the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).”
Referring to his talks with the Afghan official on the fight against illicit drugs, Velayati said, “The Afghan government is discontented with the production of illicit drugs in the country and is prepared to cooperate with neighboring, regional and non-regional countries in this relation.”
The deputy chief executive officer of Afghanistan also said after the meeting, “Issues such as regional developments, internal affairs and the composition of the Afghan cabinet were discussed with the head of the Center for Strategic Research.”
He said, “Agreements have been reached between (Afghan President) Ashraf Ghani and (Chief Executive Officer) Abdullah Abdullah and they have managed to find solutions for a number of challenges.”
“Cabinet members will be named in the coming week and ministries will be equally divided between the two officials.”
