Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mostafa Mohammad Najjar underlined the need for the formation of Iran-Afghanistan joint defense commission and implementation of the contents of the two countries’ joint statement. Najjar made the remarks in a meeting with Afghanistan’s ambassador to Tehran here on Saturday.
During the meeting the Iranian minister noted the two countries’ long shared borders and profound historical, ethnic and cultural ties, and stressed the need for the further expansion of the two nations’ relations.
He also said that expansion of defense ties with all Muslim countries, specially the Muslim nation of Afghanistan, sets a policy for Ahmadinejad’s administration.
Najjar further underlined the need for the formation of the two countries’ joint defense commission and called for the implementation of the contents of a joint statement issued during the last year visit to Tehran by the Afghan defense minister.
The statement focused on the level and manner of Iran’s cooperation in the reinvigoration and equipment of Afghanistan’s national army and also stressed the need for the formation of a joint defensive cooperation commission by the two sides.
He assured that Tehran and Kabul can overcome such problems as terrorism and drug smuggling as well as the negative impacts of drug smuggling on regional stability and security through mutual cooperation and coordination.
For his part, the Afghan envoy also stressed the need for the bolstering of all-out cooperation between the two nations, and conveyed an invitation from his country’s defense minister to Najjar to pay a visit to Afghanistan.
“We believe that the trip would be a turning point in the two countries’ defense ties,” he added.
Mohammad Yahya Maroufi further praised Iran’s non-stop supports for the establishment of peace, stability and security in Afghanistan, and reiterated that expansion of all-out ties with the Islamic Republic sets a priority for Kabul.