Iran, Afghanistan call for joint fight against terror

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan

Visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has underlined the need to jointly fight terrorism with Afghanistan.

Zarif arrived in Kabul on Sunday on an official visit which he described as aimed at strengthening ties with Afghanistan.

Addressing a joint press conference with his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani, Zarif said there was a need to jointly fight extremism, terrorism and narcotics.

"Just like in the past, there are movements to strengthen extremists and promote violence in this region which is certainly detrimental to all.

"The terror, violence and extremism are not limited to any specific area, but it would also engulf those promoting it," he said.

Salahuddin Rabbani said terrorism was a mutual threat for the stability of Afghanistan and Iran, the region and the world.

"The current global fight against terrorism will be successful when the Muslim world clearly defines terrorism, and the Islamic countries jointly fight against violent groups, without separating them into good and bad," he said.

Later on Sunday, Zarif met with Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani along with a high-level delegation.

Ghani said Afghanistan's stability should not be sacrificed in the regional rivalries.

The Afghan president noted stern actions had been taken against terrorist groups, including Daesh, and Afghanistan’s soil would not be allowed to be used against any other country.

"The war in Afghanistan is not an internal war," he said.

This comes as concerns are growing in Afghanistan over a so-called emerging nexus between the Taliban, Iran and Russia.

The Russian officials have acknowledged having "contacts with the Taliban for the safety of its diplomatic mission", but Afghan officials accuse Moscow and Tehran of supporting the Taliban for their own strategic goals. Kabul has also long been blaming Pakistan for sparing "good Taliban" and using them for strategic goals in Afghanistan.

The former World Bank economist also welcomed the growing trade ties between the two countries, and expressed resolve to further bolster bilateral ties.

"In the context of regional cooperation, we wish to link Iran via Afghanistan with China and Uzbekistan," the president said while stressing the need for an appropriate visa regime for Afghan workers in Iran in a bid to curb illegal migration.

According to the Arg (Presidential Palace), the Iranian foreign minister expressed his condolences over the death of some 150 Afghan soldiers in an attack on the army’s regional headquarters in Mazar-e-Sharif city last month.

"Terrorist groups are a threat to both countries. We are always with the people of Afghanistan, and will remain so in the future," he was quoted as saying.