Iranian FM visits Afghanistan
ILNA: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Kabul, Afghanistan on Jan. 20 to discuss mutual ties with senior Afghani officials.
During his one - day visit Zarif is scheduled to meet with Afghani president Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai as well as Abdullah Abdullah Chief Executive Officer of Afghanistan and the head of the National Security Council.
Zarif will reportedly submit Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s invitation letter to Ghani Ahmadzai to visit Iran.
This is first visit of Iranian foreign minister to Afghanistan since Rouhani took office in ۲۰۱۳.
Zarif told reporters on Jan. ۱۹ that he will announce the Islamic Republic’s support for the neighboring country’s national unity government.
The issues of mutual interests as well as fighting drug trafficking, extremism and terrorism will be discussed during the visit, he added.
Earlier Iranian media outlets quoted Nazifullah Salarzai, president Ghani Ahmadzai’s spokesman saying the president will likely sign a security pact with Iran soon.
Afghanistan is planning to sign a strategic deal with Iran to boost cooperation in fighting against terrorism and fighting drugs smuggling.
In August ۲۰۱۳, Afghan President Hamid Karzai signed a strategic cooperation pact with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani covering mainly security issues.