Iran plays key role in Afghan stability: Karzai

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has highlighted Iran’s role in the restoration of stability to and the development of war-torn Afghanistan.

Karzai made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific and Commonwealth Affairs Ebrahim Rahimpour on Thursday.

Karzai expressed his gratitude for Iran’s assistance to the Afghan people and government over the years.

Rahimpour, for his part, highlighted ties with neighboring countries as among the “priorities” of Iran’s foreign policy.

He said Iran would like to see “security, stability and sustainable development” restored to Afghanistan.

During the meeting, the Afghan president and the Iranian official also discussed the latest developments in Afghanistan as well as further promotion of bilateral ties, including trade relations.

Earlier in the day, Rahimpour also met with Afghanistan’s Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Zarar Ahmad Muqbel Osmani.

Osmani praised Iran’s efforts to help restore peace and stability in his country and underlined the need for the expansion of Tehran-Kabul ties.

Rahimpour, for his part, said the establishment of peace and stability in Afghanistan is a major concern for Iran, and voiced Tehran’s readiness to help establish sustainable development and security in the war-battered country.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but the country is still grappling with mounting insecurity despite the presence of thousands of foreign troops.

Iran, an immediate neighbor of Afghanistan, has repeatedly called for a regional solution to the crisis in the country and blamed the growing insecurity and drug trafficking in Afghanistan on the foreign military presence there.