Afghan Senate Vice Speaker:

Iran Paving the Way for Peace in Afghanistan

Navideshahed: Vice Speaker of Afghanistan Senate Rafiullah Gul Afghan referred to the rise in the level of Tehran-Kabul relations and called Iran an important factor for the establishment of peace in Afghanistan.

News ID: ۳۱۰۴۴۸

سه‌شنبه - ۳۱ مهر ۲۰۱۱ / 2011 31 July

"Iran, through supporting and cooperating with the High Commission of Afghanistan Peace Council could prepare the ground for a speedy realization of peace in that country," he said.

The Afghan official said that unfortunately relations with Iran in certain areas have been diminished due to the presence of the American military in Afghanistan. He emphasized that US military presence in the region strengthens the idea, especially among Iranian officials, that they may invade other countries as well, but Afghanistan would now allow its territory to be misused against other countries, especially the sister country, Iran.

Approving that level of Iran-Afghanistan relations after the collapse of the Taliban was enjoying an acceptable position, he said after the Taliban we are witnessing that by reliance on language and cultural commonalities between the two countries, the level of interactions between has taken a momentum.

Gul Afghan underlined the need for a serious campaign against drug traffickers and said fight against narcotic drugs is a global responsibility and all are obliged to struggle such an ominous phenomenon. During the Taliban, Afghanistan had been turned into a hub for trafficking narcotic drugs and unfortunately it has remained the same. But, he added, it is hoped that through efforts that have been launched for fighting drugs trafficking this ominous phenomenon would be halted.

With regard to transfer of security responsibilities from foreign forces to Afghan forces, he said about 15 days are passed since the transfer was started and so far Afghanistan has exhibited enough capability to defend its territorial integrity by relying on domestic forces. He expressed hope that by the end of 2014 all foreign troops would leave the Afghan territory.

The Afghan parliamentarian, referring to transferring Taliban from an armed group to a political group in political equations, stressed that it was a mere rumor and no reliable information was yet available in this regard.

Commenting on reports about efforts of foreign forces to dismiss President Hamid Karzai, he said it was a rumor, adding that the president was a national and respectful figure in Afghanistan who plays an important role in the country under the status quo. No doubt, he added, Karzai who has come to power through public vote could continue a five-year period and no one could dismiss him from his position.

In a joint statement issued Tuesday, Iran and Afghanistan have stressed the importance of joint Tehran-Kabul action to fight terrorism and extremism in the region.

Chairman of Iran's Majlis (parliament) Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy Alaeddin Boroujerdi, and visiting Rafiullah Gul Afghan, the second deputy of Afghanistan's Senate, condemned extremism and pledged to provide the legal grounds required for eradicating terrorism in the region.

The statement also emphasized the Afghan nation's ability to maintain security in the country, voiced support for the full handover of security posts to Afghan forces and called on Afghanistan's High Peace Council to take further steps to maintain stability and peace in the country.
The Iranian and Afghan officials urged promotion of bilateral economic relations and commercial transactions between Iran and Afghanistan through the two countries' parliaments.

They also expressed grave concern about the mounting production of narcotics in the region, and urged cooperation between the Iranian and Afghan parliaments to pass stricter laws to counter drug cultivation, production and trafficking.

Boroujerdi and Gul Afghan also called for the formation of a parliamentary friendship group within a month. Gul Afghan heading a parliamentary delegation comprising chairmen of various commissions visited Iran July 23-26, upon an invitation from Boroujerdi to hold talks with senior Iranian officials.

During their stay here, the senior Afghan lawmakers met with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi, Justice Minister Morteza Bakhtiari, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, as well as chairmen of Iranian parliament commissions.

The End
Source: ICANA News Agency

"Iran, through supporting and cooperating with the High Commission of Afghanistan Peace Council could prepare the ground for a speedy realization of peace in that country," he said. The Afghan official said that unfortunately relations with Iran in certain areas have been diminished due to the presence of the American military in Afghanistan. He emphasized that US military presence in the region strengthens the idea, especially among Iranian officials, that they may invade other countries as well, but Afghanistan would now allow its territory to be misused against other countries, especially the sister country, Iran. Approving that level of Iran-Afghanistan relations after the collapse of the Taliban was enjoying an acceptable position, he said after the Taliban we are witnessing that by reliance on language and cultural commonalities between the two countries, the level of interactions between has taken a momentum. Gul Afghan underlined the need for a serious campaign against drug traffickers and said fight against narcotic drugs is a global responsibility and all are obliged to struggle such an ominous phenomenon. During the Taliban, Afghanistan had been turned into a hub for trafficking narcotic drugs and unfortunately it has remained the same. But, he added, it is hoped that through efforts that have been launched for fighting drugs trafficking this ominous phenomenon would be halted. With regard to transfer of security responsibilities from foreign forces to Afghan forces, he said about 15 days are passed since the transfer was started and so far Afghanistan has exhibited enough capability to defend its territorial integrity by relying on domestic forces. He expressed hope that by the end of 2014 all foreign troops would leave the Afghan territory. The Afghan parliamentarian, referring to transferring Taliban from an armed group to a political group in political equations, stressed that it was a mere rumor and no reliable information was yet available in this regard. Commenting on reports about efforts of foreign forces to dismiss President Hamid Karzai, he said it was a rumor, adding that the president was a national and respectful figure in Afghanistan who plays an important role in the country under the status quo. No doubt, he added, Karzai who has come to power through public vote could continue a five-year period and no one could dismiss him from his position. In a joint statement issued Tuesday, Iran and Afghanistan have stressed the importance of joint Tehran-Kabul action to fight terrorism and extremism in the region. Chairman of Iran's Majlis (parliament) Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy Alaeddin Boroujerdi, and visiting Rafiullah Gul Afghan, the second deputy of Afghanistan's Senate, condemned extremism and pledged to provide the legal grounds required for eradicating terrorism in the region. The statement also emphasized the Afghan nation's ability to maintain security in the country, voiced support for the full handover of security posts to Afghan forces and called on Afghanistan's High Peace Council to take further steps to maintain stability and peace in the country. The Iranian and Afghan officials urged promotion of bilateral economic relations and commercial transactions between Iran and Afghanistan through the two countries' parliaments. They also expressed grave concern about the mounting production of narcotics in the region, and urged cooperation between the Iranian and Afghan parliaments to pass stricter laws to counter drug cultivation, production and trafficking. Boroujerdi and Gul Afghan also called for the formation of a parliamentary friendship group within a month. Gul Afghan heading a parliamentary delegation comprising chairmen of various commissions visited Iran July 23-26, upon an invitation from Boroujerdi to hold talks with senior Iranian officials. During their stay here, the senior Afghan lawmakers met with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi, Justice Minister Morteza Bakhtiari, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, as well as chairmen of Iranian parliament commissions. The End Source: ICANA News Agency