Iran fulfilled financial commitments to Afghanistan: Salehi

Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi says Tehran has fulfilled its financial commitments for the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Iran’s aid to Afghanistan was provided in the form of infrastructure projects including the construction of 300 kilometers of roads, 207 kilometers of railways, supplying water and electricity and building clinics for special medical purposes, Salehi said.

The Iranian foreign minister made the remarks in an international conference in Tokyo that has brought together delegates from around 70 countries to raise billions of dollars in aid for Afghanistan.

“Iran will continue granting financial aid and implementing infrastructure projects in Afghanistan and will be committed to all its obligations in this regard,” Salehi added.

Salehi blamed the over a decade-long presence of foreign military forces in Afghanistan for the rise in terrorism, narcotics smuggling and instability in the Asian country.

According to the reports, between 2001 and 2011, annual opium production in Afghanistan rose from 185 tons to 5,800 tons. Last year alone, it increased by 61 percent.

The Iranian foreign minister stressed the responsibility of the Afghan government to fight bureaucratic corruption and narcotics trafficking.