Iran, Afghanistan Stress Sustainable Regional Security
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Senior Iranian and Afghan national security officials, in a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday, emphasized the necessity for closer cooperation between the two neighbors to establish “sustainable security and stability” in the region.
In the meeting with visiting Afghan National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani stressed the need to boost strategic cooperation between Tehran and Kabul to preserve security along joint borders.
He also pointed to the historical and cultural commonalities between the two countries and described them as the main factor deterring divisive policies of the enemies.
Shamkhani went on to say certain world powers have been behind spreading insecurity and terror in Muslim countries to destroy their national capacities and justify their military and economic presence in the region.
“The era of using terrorism as a tool to interfere in the (Middle East) region and develop colonialist objectives is over,” he underscored.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian official said that the withdrawal of NATO from Afghanistan would provide a good opportunity for the country’s army and security forces to prove their capability in defending Afghanistan’s national interests and combating terrorism.
NATO's war in Afghanistan formally ended on December 28, when the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was replaced by the US-led follow-up mission "Resolute Support", which will focus on training and assisting Afghan forces. Afghan troops are now in full charge of maintaining security in the war-torn nation.
The Afghan official, for his part, hailed Iran’s active role in the development and progress of Afghanistan.
Atmar also said political solidarity, and combating extremism and terrorism as well as the expansion of cooperation with neighbors, are among the top priorities of the new Afghan government.