‘Region cooperation key to fight terror’
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has underscored regional cooperation as the most instrumental method to counter terrorism.
“Regional cooperation is the main way to counter ethnic and religious terrorism and extremism,” the Iranian president said in a telephone conversation with his Afghan counterpart, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, on Sunday, adding that security is the first priority of Afghanistan’s national unity government.
Rouhani further hailed the formation of the national unity government in Afghanistan, calling for the continuation of cooperation between political parties in the country.
Iranian president also referred to a recent security deal between the US and Afghanistan, saying that Afghan people’s interest should have priority over any other measures by the Afghan national unity government.
On September 30, the new Afghan government and the US inked a long-delayed security agreement for the presence of US soldiers in the country beyond 2014.
Rouhani pointed to the deep ties between Iran and Afghanistan, expressing hope that relations with other countries will not harm the friendly relations between Tehran and Kabul.
Confirming Rouhani’s remarks on fighting terrorism, the Afghan president said, “Extremism and terrorism are pressing issues and we should act against them” through cooperation.
He further referred to his country’s security deal with the US, noting, “Any deal between Afghanistan and other countries will never be against Iran.”
On September 29, Ghani was sworn in as Afghanistan’s new president, following a long dispute over the results of the country’s presidential election.
Earlier in September, Ghani had been named president-elect after he reached a power-sharing deal with his rival Abdullah Abdullah in the June run-off vote following months of political wrangling.
Under the deal, Abdullah, who also took the oath of office on September 29, took up the new post of “chief executive officer” (CEO), which is similar to the role of prime minister.
IA/MAM/AS