Iran, Afghan officials stress expansion of ties

Iranian and Afghan officials stressed expansion of bilateral relations on Tuesday.

During a meeting with visiting Afghan Minister of Trade and Industries Wahidullah Shahrani, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Iran supported any expansion of ties between the two countries which would lead to consolidation of security and stability in Afghanistan and fighting terrorism there.

During the international gatherings, he said, Iran has always highlighted the wrong US policies undertaken by former American president George W Bush in the region, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan, believing that such policies could solve no problems the region was suffering from.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the foreign minister stressed the importance of establishment and activation of border markets by the two countries which he said could facilitate exchange of goods by the border people.

Pointing to Iran as Afghanistan’s second biggest trade partner, Shahrani said his country was keen to boost relations with Iran.

He further welcomed the presence of Iranian companies in Afghanistan especially in such sectors as railroad transportation.

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