Iran defense minister confers with Afghan vice-president

Kabul, June 19, IRNA -- Defense Minister Brigadier-General Ahmad Vahidi conferred on Saturday with Afghan second Vice-President Abdul Karim Khalili on issues of mutual interests and the regional developments.

Vahidi is currently on a visit to Afghanistan at the invitation of his Afghan counterpart General Abdul Raheem Wardak.

At the meeting with the vice-president, the Iranian minister called for expansion of ties and cooperation between the two countries.

He lauded the Afghan people for their bright record of fighting foreign occupation since 1970s.

Afghanistan will experience growth and development thanks to the country’s domestic potentialities, he said.

Vahidi said that the Islamic Republic of Iran regards Afghan peace and security as its own and believes that peace and security in Afghanistan will be restored by contribution of the countries in the region.

The Afghan vice president, for his part, welcomed the Iranian minister and thanked Iran’s sincere cooperation and assistance to Afghan people.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has attained remarkable achievements in science and technology, he said adding that such cooperation between the two countries will leave positive impacts on restoration of stability in the region.

Reviewing the regional developments, the two sides underlined that under the current sensitive events in the region, the two countries are ready to enhance level of cooperation.

The Iranian minister is scheduled to confer with a number of senior Afghan officials as well as the country’s president during his stay.end