Indian senior diplomat confers with Mottaki

Tehran, Feb 3, IRNA – Indian Deputy Foreign Minister Nirupama Rao conferred with Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki here on Tuesday.

According to the report of Foreign Ministry Media Department, in the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral ties as well as international and regional issues.

Referring to the mutual ties in the economic field and projects cooperation, Mottaki stressed that friendship and cooperation between Iran and India has always continued in spite of efforts by some alien and arrogant countries to change this policy.

He added unfortunately, certain powers outside the region are abusing our region and we are facing with failed policies in the region and our nations are victims of these policies.

Mottaki, by referring to the former US president goals in invading Afghanistan, underlined that the US and Britain have failed in all three goals of establishment of security, fight against extremism and fight against drug smuggling in Afghanistan.

The visiting Indian senior diplomat called Iran-India relations friendly and expressed hope that her consultations with Iranian officials and holding joint commission help to develop bilateral ties.

She said main concerns in the region are terrorism and extremism and underscored that India wants stability and development in Afghanistan, too.

Nirupama Rao added that the recent policies of certain countries outside the region on Afghanistan have intensified concerns./end