Iran, Afghan First VPs stress expansion of bilateral ties

Kabul, Feb 21, IRNA - First Vice Presidents of Iran and Afghanistan stressed the need to expand relations between the two countries.

In a joint news conference with his Afghan counterpart Ahmad Zia
Massoud here Saturday, Parviz Davoudi pointed to Iran?s policy of
expanding economic, political and cultural relations with its
neighboring countries especially the ones who shared the same language
and religion with Iran.

Stressing that the two neighboring countries of Iran and Afghanistan
always enjoyed very close relations all through the history, he
pointed out that the Iranian nation, despite the war and sanctions
imposed on it by hegemonic powers, always stood by its brethren in
Afghanistan and never hesitated in supporting them by hosting millions
of Afghan refugees.

Stressing that Iran and Afghanistan were focusing on projects to
revive the old Silk Road, Iran?s first vice president said the project
to link Iran?s railways network to Tajikistan through Afghanistan
served the same purpose.

Zia Masoud hailed Iran?s hospitality in hosting millions of Afghan
refugees and highlighted Iran?s outstanding contribution in
reconstructing Afghanistan.

Saying that the two countries were planning to increase cooperation in
anti-narcotics operations, he also said that in his talks with
Davoudi, he focused on boosting mutual ties in the energy,
transportation, trade, agriculture and higher education sectors.

End