Abdullah Voices Support for Kabul's Closer Ties with Tehran

“I hope Iran and Afghanistan will become a model of good regional cooperation,” Abdullah Abdullah said in an exclusive interview with the Tasnim News Agency, stressing his willingness to expand Tehran-Kabul ties in all areas.

“Afghanistan has always maintained good relations with Iran and the Iranian government and people have unreservedly supported the Afghan people in different junctures,” he said, adding that Iran has played a constructive role in the establishment of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

He underlined that the ground is set for cooperation between the two countries at different levels.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Abdullah referred to the presidential election in his country, and said his “Reforms and Convergence” faction by presenting comprehensive programs and better options for good governance, motivated people to go to the polls enthusiastically. 

Abdullah said that in his election campaign, he has laid out his plans for safeguarding Islamic and national values, protecting peace, stability and security, enhancing sustainable development, strengthening the role of political parties, and supporting human rights, among other things.

An estimated seven million Afghans went to the polls on April 5 to choose a successor to President Hamid Karzai who has been in office for two terms.

The latest partial results put former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah in the lead with 44.4 percent ahead of his rival Ashraf Ghani with 33.2 percent as more than half of the votes were counted.

Afghans will have to go to the polls in a runoff on May 28, if no candidate wins at least 50 percent of the vote.