Iran's Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani made the remarks here on Saturday in a meeting with Mohammad Hanif Atmar, National Security Advisor to Ashraf Ghani the President of Afghanistan.
Atmar, who is in Tehran for a two-day visit at the invitation of Shamkhani, held talks with the head of the SNSC on the latest regional developments and the mechanisms required for combating terrorism in Afghanistan.
During the meeting, Shamkhani stressed the need for the continuation of expansive and strategic cooperation as well as security talks between Iran and Afghanistan, and highlighted the significance of reaching permanent solutions for combating terrorism and restoring security at the two countries’ shared borders.
He also referred to the current talks between the two countries in regard to the control over territorial waters, adding “water is one of the key factors of development and prosperity in the border regions of both countries, and thereby, must be given special attention within the framework of mutual right and as a factor for increasing amity and cooperation in line with the welfare of those Iranian and Afghan people living in border cities.”
Shamkhani further deemed border security a key factor for development of infrastructure and economy, increasing trade transactions and reducing drug trafficking, adding “stopping the increase in terrorist activities and the influence of drug traffickers at shared borders cannot happen without purpose-oriented interaction and application of convergent strategies.”
Atmar, for his part, commended Iran’s constructive role in the development of Afghanistan, saying “an all-out confrontation with extremism and terrorism will be only possible through a regional security approach and cooperation among all countries.”
He further stressed his country’s resolve for following up on the implementation of an MoU signed between Iran and Afghanistan’s supreme councils, and called for expansion of cooperation particularly with neighboring countries in establishing security at borders and combating terrorism and transit of narcotics.
MS/3733234
Your Comment