Mohammad Hanif Atmar, National Security Advisor to President Ashraf Ghani, met and talked with Head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani on Monday afternoon sharing views on security developments inside the region as well as bilateral cooperation in various fields like economy, security, border waters, fighting narcotics as well as combatting terrorism.
Early into the session, Shamkhani, while condemning recent terrorist explosions in Kabul that killed and injured a large number of the oppressed people in Afghanistan, expressed condolences over the sad incident to families, government and people of the neighboring country.
Referring to high and indissoluble security of Islamic Republic of Iran and Afghanistan, the official reiterated that coherent and coordinated action among neighboring countries was a prerequisite to confronting formation and expansion of terrorist and Takfiri groups.
He expressed concern towards continuation of financial and intelligence support and arming of Takfiri and terrorist groups by some reactionary countries in the region adding “the process has led to spread of insecurity, sectarian and religious strife, and destruction of measures taken by the Afghan government in pursuing the process of development and construction in the country.”
Head of Iran’s SNSC later noted with reference to history of civilization and widespread cultural commonalities shared between the two countries that “continuation of consultations and exchange of experiences to combat insecurity have created stability, peace and prosperity on the borders between the two countries.”
He stressed the need to boost mobility and activity of the four bilateral cooperation committees and to remove existing barriers; “insufficient efforts to effectively work on agreed structures for solving existing problems would slow down process of realizing the political will of leaders of the two countries to bolster ties for provision of common interests.”
Mohammad Hanif Atmar, for his part, touched upon constructive cooperation of the Islamic Republic of Iran with establishment of the National Unity Government in Afghanistan and called for continuation of the negotiation process to strengthen its authority and coherence.
“Increasing political instability and political divisions in Afghanistan is the basis for strengthening influence of terrorism and spreading insecurity to other countries of the region,” he underscored.
Atmar added that the Afghan army and security forces, using their indigenous capabilities, have consistently and effectively sought to eradicate terrorism and confront mobsters, especially on the common borders of the two countries.
HA/4040013