Iran, Afghanistan Starting Long-Term Strategic Cooperation

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman says Iran and its eastern neighbour Afghanistan have drawn up draft documents on long-term strategic cooperation on a range of issue during a recent bilateral meeting.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with several senior Afghan officials during his day-long trip to Kabul on Sunday.

According to Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi, Zarif had fruitful talks with his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani, President Ashraf Ghani, National Security Advisor Hanif Atmar, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and former President Hamid Karzai.

Zarif’s meetings with top Afghan officials show the importance that Kabul attaches to the Iranian foreign minister’s trip, Qassemi noted.

“It’s been quite some time that officials of both countries have been in contact and have been holding consultations to formulate a specific framework in order to enhance strategic ties [between the two sides],” said the spokesman.

In these meetings, topics such as mutual economic and commercial cooperation, security and border issues, war on drugs, natural resources, the issue of Afghan immigrants and environment were discussed, said Qassemi.

The two sides also drew up draft documents on long-term strategic cooperation on issues of mutual interest, said the spokesman.

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