The United States’ withdrawal of forces is a golden opportunity for Afghanistan to improve its defense and military capabilities by relying on domestic and regional capacities, a top Iranian security official said.
“Regional nations are looking forward to the total pullout of American forces, whose presence has had no outcome but war and insecurity,” Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, also said in a Wednesday meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
He noted that “covert” and “destructive” operations by non-regional states, especially the US, do not help foster sustainable peace in Afghanistan, but rather complicate peace efforts.
The Iranian official also called for joint efforts to secure the common borders against terrorist groups.
“Enemies of the region’s security and peace are seeking to make shared borders unsafe so as to transfer the defeated Daesh [self-styled Islamic State terrorist group] to Afghanistan … and wage war and bloodshed in this country once again,” he was quoted as saying by ISNA.
It is vital, according to Shamkhani, for regional countries to be alert and prepared to counter new terrorist threats.
Looming Horror
“Any negligence can cause horrific incidents like those in Iraq and Syria,” he warned.
In addition, he highlighted the role of border trade in assuring security in border areas and combating smuggling, expressing Iran’s readiness to expand political, economical and cultural relations and promote defense, military and security collaborations.
“Security and progress of Afghanistan are the security and progress of Iran,” Shamkhani said, stressing the urgency of finalizing and signing a document on comprehensive bilateral relations.
Strengthening relations with neighboring countries is, he added, on top of Iran’s principled policies.
“The two countries’ religious, cultural and historical bonds offer considerable potential for expansion of ties to fulfill mutual interests,” he said.
Eying Long-Term Interests
The Afghan president underlined the need to set up active joint mechanisms between Iran and Afghanistan’s intelligence and security organizations to accelerate efforts against terrorism, organized crime and drug smuggling.
“Sustainable security at shared borders is a main priority of the government of Afghanistan,” Ghani said.
He said Kabul’s approach to Iran is aimed at retaining and promoting relations in the long run.
“Unlocking the potential for economic ties, especially trade and transit of good across borders, would guarantee endurable relations that would meet the two countries’ long-term interests,” he said.
Backing Peace Process
Shamkhani, who was in Kabul at the head of a high-ranking political, military and security delegation, also met Chief Executive of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah on Wednesday to discuss topics of mutual interest.
He voiced Iran’s support for a peace process based on an intra-Afghan dialogue, saying that any other approach would harm the stability and security of the country.
Shamkhani noted that the US strategy in the region is aimed at permanent domination through “maximum exploitation with minimum costs”.
“Inciting proxy wars, creating terrorist groups and constantly supporting them are all planned for this purpose,” he said.
He expressed hope that the implementation of agreements reached during his visit would open a new chapter in Tehran-Kabul relations.
Abdullah said the biggest challenge facing his country today is security, which requires the collaboration of all neighbors for overcoming it.
“Afghanistan’s terrorist groups use violence and bloodshed to impose their will on the country’s legitimate government,” he said, adding that the Afghan nation’s political preferences should be expressed through the ballot box without pressure and threat from terrorists.
Abdullah stressed that the main need of the region is sustainable security to pave the way for economic growth and elimination of poverty.
“We welcome Iran’s initiatives in combating terrorism to restore peace and stability to the region,” he said.
