Rouhani Calls for Further Improvement of Tehran-Kabul Relations
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani called for expansion of ties and cooperation with Afghanistan in a meeting with the new Iranian Ambassador to Kabul Mohammad Reza Bahrami.
Rouhani said it is a necessity to develop comprehensive relations with Afghanistan in all fields, stressing that the two nations have many cultural, political, and religious commonalities that make for special friendly feelings between them.
Iran’s new ambassador to Kabul, ahead of his mission to Afghanistan, met with President Rouhani and presented a report on the latest situation in bilateral relations and internal issues.
The meeting between Rouhani and Bahrami came as the latter, a former ambassador to Afghanistan, replaces Abolfazl Zohrevand, who has also served as a deputy foreign minister and Iran’s ambassador to Italy.
In September 2007, Afghan President Hamid Karzai awarded Bahrami with the highest state order, Ahmad Shah Massoud Badge of Honor, in his farewell meeting at the end of his diplomatic mission in the country.
The Iranian president also ruled out any foreign intervention in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, calling for an Afghan solution to the problems facing the country.
“The problems of Afghanistan should be resolved by the people of that country,” said Rouhani, adding that the interference of foreigners can only exacerbate the situation in that country.
Since late 2001, the new Afghan government under Hamid Karzai has managed to hold cordial relations with both Iran and the United States.
The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 under the pretext of war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power but more than a decade into the US-led invasion, Afghanistan remains gripped by insecurity despite the presence of thousands of foreign troops.
